July 9, 2012

Does Your Credibility Show in What You Do?

published this at 7:25 am

cooltext443860173_ive-been-thinking

about credibility and what we do.

Not long ago, while we were listening to a talk show, a friend made a remark about a woman caller who argued a passionate opinion. She talked a bit longer than was acceptable for the the show in question. What he said was, “Anyone who can’t stop long enough to let someone else talk isn’t worth listening to.”

Have you met the pot that called the kettle black? With that sentence his credibility was shot.


BigStock: Black pot and kettle

This friend loves to argue science, politics, and how things work — he uses the same arguments more than once. His style is exactly that. He makes his voice such a strong force that no one has the energy to argue his point. It’s fine tactic for winning, but not one for reaching the truth. It’s also, as he himself said, not a way to win people who want to listen to you.

I’ve been thinking about that dissonance ever since. What struck me is how often we dislike in others what is our own habit or fault. We hold up our values when we call someone out for misbehaving, but we lose our credibility when the misbehavior is something we do too.

I’m going to be a little slower to talk. I’m going to check for my own version of someone’s bad behavior before I point theirs out. I don’t want to be the pot that calls the kettle black.

Credibility is hard to renew.

Credibility means believability. How believable can we be if we knock a behavior we do ourselves? .

Does your credibility show in what you do?

Be credible.
Be irresistible.
Be the best version of you.

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Filed under leadership / management, Successful Blog | 14 Comments »


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14 Comments to “Does Your Credibility Show in What You Do?”

  1. July 9th, 2012 at 3:59 pm
    Laurie D Shepherd said

    Credibility is a very important factor in making a sale. People buy from people they know like and trust. Make sure that everything you do is in alignment with who you say you are.

  2. July 9th, 2012 at 4:39 pm
    Di said

    I don’t entirely agree with you about not pointing
    Out misbehaviour we indulge in ourselves.
    As long as we acknowledge we are not perfecr,
    that we too can be guilty of similar behaviour,
    then the comment can be made, and a discussion had.

  3. July 9th, 2012 at 5:23 pm
    Peter Trapasso said

    Hi Liz,

    I love talk radio and hear you loud and clear on this one!

    Great example for all to learn from here.

    thanks,

    Pete

  4. July 9th, 2012 at 7:59 pm
    Tammi said

    I wish I could remember more often to shut my mouth when I’m sounding off about others.

  5. July 9th, 2012 at 8:02 pm
    Mike Ellsworth said

    Bullies never win, they just think they do! Great post!

  6. July 9th, 2012 at 8:17 pm
    Fang Feng said

    Enjoy your writing, Liz. It’s very true that credibility is easy to lose, but hard to establish. Just like in EA, I would never take the missions from some folks, because I was lied once and I would never trust those again.

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

  7. July 9th, 2012 at 8:23 pm
    Does Your Credibility Show in What You Do? (Reblog) | fangsvoice said

    [...] Does Your Credibility Show in What You Do? (Reblog) [...]

  8. July 10th, 2012 at 7:05 am
    Liz said

    Hi Laurie,
    I’m with you on that. It seems though that most people work on the premise that they live according to what they say they believe without being terribly aware of whether they do. :)

  9. July 10th, 2012 at 7:05 am
    Liz said

    Hi Di,
    I don’t think the act of calling attention to a misbehavior is the problem. I think judging or condemning it when we’re not aware that we do the same thing is. :)

  10. July 10th, 2012 at 7:06 am
    Liz said

    Hi Pete!
    Thank you for taking the time to say so! :)

  11. July 10th, 2012 at 7:08 am
    Liz said

    Hi Tammi!
    You and me both!! heh heh

  12. July 10th, 2012 at 7:25 am
    Liz said

    Hi Mike!
    Every bully was a victim once. If only they could remember…

  13. July 10th, 2012 at 7:26 am
    Liz said

    Hi Fang,
    I look forward to seeing you because your sincerity shines through. Thank you for this lovely comment. :)

  14. July 10th, 2012 at 8:11 am
    Phil Shepherd said

    Being right about everything in a way that makes others feel that they must be wrong is a great tactic for “winning” as well.

    But it doesn’t allow for more than one way broadcasting of information and could be considered kinda old fashioned in the new social media world. – Hopefully our new world of discussion and dialogue and relationship building is weeding out this kind of “one way street” verbiage.

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