A Shortcut to Credibility

One of the most important factors in becoming a leader in any organization is credibility. Most people will not follow a person who is not believable. Trust is indispensable. These elements of leadership take lots of time to develop. Many leaders grow impatient with the process necessary in order to gain trust from their followers.

There is a way to shortcut this process. While no leader hopes for it, crisis has the potential to expedite the evolution of credibility. How a leader responds and leads in times of crisis has a way of fast-forwarding the growth of one’s plausibility. The greater the crisis, the greater the potential effect.

Be ready to act. Position yourself to respond in strong and decisive ways. It is difficult, if not impossible, to anticipate the specifics of the next crisis. While you may not know the characteristics of the emergency that waits around the next corner, you can prepare yourself in general terms. Essentials like steadiness, courage and foresight are necessary. You can’t wait until crisis strikes to develop these strengths.

Begin now. Get yourself ready. Be positioned to act. Not only will you behave as a leader when tough times come, but you will also enjoy more credibility today. The things that make you a great leader in bad times will also make you a great leader right now.