The last Cowardly Leadership post discussed Capability. This is the logical extension of the Capability-Credibility mix:
Credibility
Capability is past tense, or at least past through the present tense. Credibility is the present into the future. Capability is what potential you might have as a leader, as a swimmer, as a golfer. Credibility is proving you can actually do it. The definition of credibility includes terms like proficiency, believable, perceived expertise.
In the post on Capability, I used golf as an example. I have the capacity and ability to play really good golf. I’ve done it enough times that the potential is there. I can stand on the driving range and be, in golf terminology, a pretty good ball striker. So what happens on the course?
Wind. Bad lies. Pressure. Playing with other guys that distract you. Internal pressure to birdie a hole I’ve never birdied before, or to beat someone I’ve never beaten before. Pressure in a team match to not let the other team members down.
Standing over a 3 foot putt on the practice green after I’ve been practice putting for 30 minutes, I’m pretty confident I can make the putt. Standing on the 18th green with a 3 foot putt to win the match (and possibly some money, even)? It’s different.
And- until I can do that routinely– all I have is the capability. Not the credibility.
Credibility is putting the capacity, ability, potential into practice.
How it Translates
Your staff, boss, clients, citizens- all have confidence, or at least hope, that you can do the job. You were elected, or appointed, to the position you have based on some degree of capability that you managed to show and communicate. You pulled it off during the election, or during the interview, but at some point you convinced the right people you were the right person. For the job, the office, the slot, the position.
President Trump has shown he has the potential, and I would argue (leaving emotion out of it and simply discussing definitions) that he in fact is capable of being a successful President. He has the capacity, and enough people believed it that they voted for him. Credibility will be more subjective and will be more debatable. But regardless, it remains to be seen. Because credibility deals with what you will do now and into the future.
The credibility test is true over and over throughout America at the local level more than any other. People with no government experience, no background in local government, run for and are elected to office to manage cities and counties and sit on school boards everywhere.
Where the rubber meets the road
Credibility is taking the golf game from the practice driving range to the course. And still playing well. Credibility is taking the swim times from practice and swimming those times or better in meets to set personal bests. Credibility is taking what you said you could do, and convinced us you could do, and…..doing it! When I go play in a tournament and shoot in the 70s, I’ve established credibility with all those I played with as well as all those who merely see the score. When the swimmer sets a meet record, she establishes her credibility with her teammates, coaches, and others. And, not the least important, herself.
Credibility means proving that you can do what you say you can do, or have shown the potential that you can do.
Internal and External
I absolutely believe the following: To have true credibility, I must not only be trusted by those on the outside (the external part), but I must also believe it myself (the internal part). I need confidence, and the internal belief that I am an expert, or at least pretty good, at whatever it is I am projecting. Otherwise you and everyone else will see through it. False confidence never works for long.
We see through fake politicians all the time. We see government officials that have their positions through political appointments rather than skill and ability. They have power, but are not leaders. We see those who run for office on their capability to do the job, but, sadly, show they don’t have the skill, talent, expertise, to follow through. Their credibility disappears. And almost invariably, so does their reputation.
Are you credible? Only you can prove it.
II-18
