#1 LEADERSHIP CHARACTERISTIC FOR 2019
Leadership is about relationships. Leadership is about words like respect, integrity, vision, competence, inspiration, honesty, motivation, experience, acknowledgement, risk, pioneering, etc. But according to research, there is one word that rises above all others.
I recently read an article by Forbes, "34 Words that Scream on a Resume, I am a Leader," the trouble is, they missed the most important word in leadership. They listed words that suggest you are a trailblazer, that you can manage money, that you are a developer of people, and words that declare you as influential. An excellent set of words that are all vital to the core makeup of a leader.
What word was missing from the list? Credibility. According to in-depth research by James Kouzes and Barry Pozener, credibility is most important. Their research narrows down to three qualities people look for in a leader they would willingly follow—trustworthiness, expertise and dynamism. "For trustworthiness, you can say honest. For expertise you can say competent. For dynamism, you can say inspiring. In other words... above all else, people want leaders who are credible.1"
“Three qualities people look for in a leader they would willingly follow—trustworthiness, expertise and dynamism.”
People want to know leaders are believable and trustworthy. Other characteristics of admired leaders are that they are honest, competent, and inspiring. These words provide the foundation of credibility.
“Without credibility relationships fall apart, vision fades, and people silo into what is safe.”
Ask yourself if your leadership is founded on credibility. Is your ability to cast inspirational vision backed up by clear strategic planning and the confidence to get from where you are today to where you declare you will be? Do you have a track record of delivering what you promise? People may believe in what you say, but do they believe in you? Let's be honest, casting vision is the easy and fun part, but credible leaders are the tip of the spear. Credible leaders are unafraid of what's over the horizon because they believe in what they are doing and know how they will get there.
LEADERSHIP ACTION ITEM: Take inventory of your personal credibility, and if you find aspects of your leadership a bit thin in this area, dig deep and choose to do everything in your power to earn credibility. Credibility is proven in daily decisions, in inspiration followed up by rock-solid support, and in honesty backed up by proof. Choose to become a leader whose definition is one of credibility.