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Communication Skills: Become a Credible Communicator
When you
speak, do people listen? You don't have to be E.F. Hutton to
command attention and respect in the workplace. But you do have
to be credible.
Credibility
in the workplace means believability. Simply put, do people
believe what you say? Is your reputation based on a track record
of telling the truth? Are your estimates accurate, your
forecasts realistic and your word solid? Or are you a big
talker, a storyteller or a spin doctor? Strive to be a credible
communicator.
The Right
Way to Speak and Write
From the
moment you submit a résumé and then interview for a job, the
credibility counter is activated. Are your CV's assertions
accurate, your chronology factual and your affiliations, degrees
and awards correct? Whether spoken or written, our communication
must withstand the test for truthfulness.
Whether or
not you are "found out" during the interview process, you can
lose your job and damage your career immeasurably when you lie,
misstate or misrepresent your accomplishments. Pulitzer prize
winning authors have been undone, as have supposed war heroes
and many a politician, by aggrandizing or completely falsifying
one's past accomplishments. You're also susceptible to blackmail
when you lie and are then threatened with exposure. As we've
just seen, there is no "luck of the Irish" involved when you lie
about your credentials, even as the head football coach for the
Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
For
entrepreneurs this is especially true. You ARE your business.
You must be beyond reproach. Even a hint of impropriety can be
fatal. Your goal is to ooze integrity through your words and
deeds.
Your Word Is
Your Bond
People
listen to what you say and how you say it. In every job
situation you have the opportunity to become known as a person
of his or her word. Conversely, you can become known for shading
the truth, for telling people what they want to hear, or parsing
words as a defendant might do under cross examination in a court
of law.
We've all
heard of the boy who cried wolf so many times that when a wolf
finally appeared, people had long since stopped listening. This
boy's credibility had long since turned non-existent. The same
is true in the workplace. Whether you cry racism, sexism, ageism
or favoritism it's important that there be credence to your
claims. You do everyone a disservice if you falsely accuse or
ascribe such motives to actions that otherwise occur
Words Are
Sticks and Stones
Beyond
misrepresenting your own accomplishments or capabilities, be
cautious of assertions made about others. Character
assassination can be fatal to careers, and not just the person
you're blaspheming. Whether or not you're a manager your words
carry a weight to them that affects others. Gossiping about
others or spreading falsehoods or even half-truths can flag you
as dangerous, untrustworthy and ultimately unpromotable.
One of the
keys to success in the workplace is engendering trust from your
co-workers. If you are gossiping or betraying confidences you
destroy your own credibility — as an honorable co-worker, a safe
confidante, and am ally.
Take the
High Road
Workplaces
provide ample opportunities for you to earn credibility. Every
time you make a deadline, do what you say you'll do or are there
in a time of need for others, the department of the company at
large, your credibility rises.
Times when
you defend the honor of co-workers who aren't present, refuse to
engage in gossip, or caution others to give co-workers the
benefit of the doubt, you are showing wisdom and
professionalism, which raises your credibility in the workplace.
Similarly,
when you "say the right thing" or "do the right thing" in
ethical situations your credibility is enhanced.
Tell It Like
It Is
Often
employees fall down when it comes to admitting mistakes. The
credible communicator can admit errors or mistakes in a
forthright and direct manner. Everyone makes mistakes, yet the
credible communicator can address them and go about rectifying
them, restoring confidence in him or herself. Those lacking in
credibility might try to cover up, ignore or minimize their
folly, often compounding the error of their ways. Ultimately,
it's less important that you made a mistake, than that you fixed
it and can assure others it won't happen again.
Know When to
Say No
The credible
communicator doesn't just tell people what they want to hear.
Life would be easy of we could say "yes" to every request we
received. Yet realistically, agreeing to something you
ultimately can't deliver on is detrimental to your reputation.
Develop the fortitude to say "no" when it's the right answer,
even through it may not be the popular one. Over the long term,
you will be respected for the accuracy of your assessments,
decisions and determinations, even if the news isn't music to
the ears of all who listen. Sometimes the truth isn't popular or
pretty, but a person who is a "straight shooter" is respected by
all.
Earning Your
Stripes
Strive to
boost your credibility rating at work and in your professional
relationships. You'll know you're succeeding when you hear
others tell you they know they can count on you, have confidence
in your projections and feel secure in their knowledge you're on
the team. Don't be in-credible…strive to be incredible!
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In his youth professional speaker and corporate trainer Craig
Harrison won a Tall Tales Contest. Now he teaches classes on
credibility for UC Santa Cruz Extension and other institutions
and helps professions communicate and serve for success. Hire
him at 510-547-0664, send e-mail to
excellence@craigspeaks.com and visit his website:
www.Expressionsofexcellence.com for more value from Craig.
To purchase Craig's special Report: Improve Your Communication
Quotient:
http://www.expressionsofexcellence.com/prod_workplace.html
To learn more about Craig's popular program Become A
Credible Communicator:
http://www.expressionsofexcellence.com/workplace_communication.html
To download a small PDF about Craig's popular presentation
Become A Credible Communicator:
http://www.expressionsofexcellence.com/Onesheets/WorkComm_1Sheet.pdf
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