How To Create A Lasting Culture Using The Three C's Of Credibility

These business owners often have many of the leadership skills needed to become great leaders. Still, they don’t know how to harness those skills to create a company culture that influences and empowers employees to contribute value in taking the company to the next level. Leaders are not born; they are developed. Some leadership skills may be more natural than others, but they all need to be understood, developed and nurtured.

Since the skills required to become a great leader are things that can be learned and improved upon, it’s natural that engaging in proactive education and training strengthens and sharpens those skills. In my experience, improving upon those skills will not only prove helpful in the workplace, but they will make you more effective in all of life’s arenas.

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Becoming An Effective Leader

Once you’ve decided to take your leadership development seriously, the first thing you need to know is what leadership looks like. Some well-meaning but misguided entrepreneurs think that by simply getting people to do what they want them to do, they are effective leaders. That’s not entirely correct. Leadership is as much about understanding the perception team members have of you, as it is about utilizing certain skills.

An excellent leader uses personal traits and skills that motivate team members to want what is best for themselves and those around them. A good leader empowers them to succeed by creating an environment that allows them to understand and excel in their positions, knowing they have the support of a great team. Having the theoretical understanding of how to implement this culture and being genuine in your relationships will make all the difference. Let’s look at how to create that kind of culture for your organization or team.

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The Three C’s Of Credibility

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Aristotle’s Rhetoric is the earliest introduction to credibility, or "ethos" as he called it. He was the first to understand that the purveyor of the message, the message and the audience all play a role in the communication process. Aristotle’s ethos had three dimensions: intelligence, character and goodwill. It is not coincidental that The Three C’s of Credibility parallel Aristotle’s ethos.

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Credibility research has demonstrated that people subconsciously judge the credibility of people by looking for three things: competence, character and caring. The best leaders possess all three traits.

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The only true way to create a culture of excellence in any business is for those in leadership positions to impact their team members’ lives in meaningful ways, and not just play the role of boss. In order to do that, we must focus on the skills that create the perception of high credibility.

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People seek out the guidance of those who know what they are doing. We also need to know that the people guiding us are trustworthy and genuinely care about our success. When we find someone who checks off all these boxes, we perceive them, consciously or unconsciously, as being credible. We will gladly follow their leadership, knowing that they deliver the best advice they can, based on their extensive knowledge in the field and their respect for those around them.

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Competence

When most think of credibility, they think of competence. In simple terms, does the leader know what they are doing? We simply don’t want anyone leading us if we see them as incompetent. Have you ever had a boss who “didn’t know what they were talking about”? Were they effective team leaders? Probably not. When the leader is competent, that knowledge translates into confidence, which is then passed on to the team. When your team is skilled and confident, the business is in good hands.

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Character

People throw around the term “moral compass” a lot and for a good reason. Our moral compasses drive everything we do. When we choose to follow any leader, we want to know that they possess the qualities that we find good and true and awe-inspiring. We want to follow leaders with character.

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When the team doesn’t believe the management team is straightforward or trustworthy, they put up protective barriers of their own. These barriers cut off communication and lead to ineffectual relationships between employees and management.

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Caring

The simple act of showing kindness and concern goes a long way toward gaining people’s trust. Showing empathy allows team members to understand that you want the same end result as they do. It is paramount that a leader is perceived as caring more about individuals than company numbers. In order to become a great leader, those you are leading need to know that you care.

Culture starts at the top and when a leader shows generosity, gratitude and humility, it connects us all on a very human level that creates a desire in employees to do their best for themselves and their teams. Culture is your ultimate competitive advantage. You can copy a company’s systems and processes, but you can’t copy its heart and soul.

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Priority Management is a worldwide training company with 55 offices in 15 countries. We have successfully trained more than two million graduates in Priority workshops. Our programs help companies and people be more effective and manage their workflow in and out of the office by providing tools, processes and discipline. Simply put - A Better Way To Work! Clients range from Fortune 500 companies, small-to-medium businesses and government/military employees.

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Click Here to learn more about how Priority can help you and your team WorkSm@rt, develop essential management skills and the competencies to....make life and work better and happier!