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Credibility's Impact on Teamwork

Credibility is about the consistency between words and deeds. In the book Credibility, James Kouzes and Barry Posner tell us: "People listen to the words and look at the deeds. Then they measure the congruence between them. A judgment of CREDIBLE is handed down when the two are consonant."

Credibility is earned primarily when we make others feel important. This act of affirming our team shows a fundamental belief in their capacity to grow and improve. We cannot make team members succeed. However, as leaders we can clear away the roadblocks and foster an environment that expands self-esteem. This lays the foundation for exceptional teamwork. The following list of behaviors will guide you:

Listen with empathy.
Look at people when they talk to you and when you are talking to them.
Remember to smile. It shows understanding and acceptance.
Admit when you make mistakes. Tell people what you learned and what you will change.
Set target dates to get back to team members with decisions. Lack of follow-up is often seen as lack of respect.
Be fair in your decision-making. Let people know why you have come to a specific resolution. You don't always need to be popular but if you want your team's trust, you do always need to be fair.
Celebrate small wins with words and small "tokens" of appreciation.
Say hello, good bye, thank you, please and you're welcome throughout the day.
Share your vision with the people that are helping you grow your business. Given the opportunity, most people want to become part of the dream.