Level Up Your Credibility by Sticking to These 3 Principles
The more people listen to you, the wiser you should choose your words.
An unusual post popped up in my LinkedIn feed a few months ago. An ex-colleague of mine proudly announced her new business as a health coach. ‘Oh, wow. I had no idea,’ I thought to myself. Since I departed from the company we both worked for, she also hung up her boots and is doing her own thing now.
I had to take my hat off to her for this brave step. However, I quickly doubted her credibility as a health counselor.
Why?
Because I remember that she smoked like a chimney and didn’t want to say goodbye to her cigarettes back then.
How can I (a potential client) believe she can help me live a healthier life?
This contradiction in her appearance gave me a lot to think about. I’ve found that alarmingly few people in my circle are fully convincing. And what these believable individuals have in common is that they stick to certain principles. I’ve elaborated these principles for you so you can be authentic and consistent in getting your message across.
1. You Need To Tell Your Personal Story
I want to stay with the story of my ex-colleague for a moment. She may have quit smoking in the meantime. If that’s the case, hats off to her once again. But, as a matter of fact, no one in the online cosmos knows about such a change. Instead, most people who remember her from the old days with a cigarette in her hand will raise an eyebrow. She should have informed her network and potential clients about her new life as a non-smoker.
What does that tell you?
To establish yourself as a believable consultant, you need to share your personal story with the public. Your target audience is interested in why you do what you do. To stick with the example, you owe people a transparent story about your transformation if you are coming from an unhealthy lifestyle to being a health expert.
What was the critical moment? What obstacles did you have to overcome? How do you feel today?
This is how you stand out from the crowd of uninspiring coaches.
2. Let Actions Speak Louder Than Words
“Hey, I can’t talk right now. But I’ll get back to you later.”
“I’ve missed you. Let’s catch up this weekend.”
Do these phrases sound familiar to you? You may hear them all the time from your friends. Or perhaps you use them yourself?
I have heard these well-intentioned phrases countless times. The problem is that actions don’t often follow them. The promised phone call never comes. And the person who supposedly misses me ends up forgetting about me.
‘These are just harmless little promises,’ you may think.
Yes, but a promise is still a promise — it raises an expectation in the other person.
Nicholas Epley, professor of behavioral sciences at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, has a similar view on the topic:
“Keeping a promise is valued so highly that it goes beyond its ‘objective’ value. When you keep a promise, you’ve not only done something nice for someone, you’ve fulfilled a social contract and shown that you’re reliable and trustworthy.”
Therefore, go the extra mile and stick to every little promise you make. Others will see you as a man of his word — or a woman of her word, for that matter.
3. Be Free of Contradictions
Let’s dig a little deeper into the topic of credible behavior. These days, everyone seems to be on fire for an important subject: Environmentalism, human rights, healthy relationships…
Without question, it is honorable to stand up for something good. However, it would be better if you lived what you preach. Unfortunately, some people live a different reality without even noticing it. Or they do not dare to face their truth.
Let me give you an example. A cousin of mine keeps giving me and others unsolicited relationship advice. She recommends bestselling books and warns me about red flags in a relationship. Yet, oddly enough, she lives with an unfaithful husband. The man has had a mistress for many years and makes no secret of it. It’s sad to see that she does not make the choices she recommends to others when it comes to her own life. I can, therefore, no longer take her words seriously.
Nobody is perfect. We all have our weaknesses and contradictions. But if you play the moralizer in public and don’t stick to your own “rules,” it damages your credibility tremendously.
You should think twice about the subjects you speak about. Ask yourself: Am I a living example, or do I possibly have blind spots?
Final Words
It all boils down to facing your truth and being open about it. Look at yourself and your story like a big jigsaw puzzle. The pieces must be complete and fit together.
The more people listen to you, the wiser you should choose your words.
When you are free of contractions, others will believe and trust you.
