This week in the world’s #1 newsletter on leadership communication:
- 7 Ways to Build Credibility
- The School of Hiring
- The Secret Ingredient to Win Over Your Team
- How to Handle Crucial Conversations
7 Ways to Build Credibility
Ever wondered why some people seem to effortlessly gain trust while others struggle?
It all comes down to credibility. It’s the foundation of trust, engagement, and influence — the secret sauce that moves people to action.
Credibility
- Builds trust
- Engages the audience
- Creates a lasting bond
- Moves people to action
Without credibility, there’s no trust, no thought leadership, and no business success.
I faced this challenge when I started my own business in 2011. After working in large organizations for ten years, all of a sudden I had to build my own credibility – without a famous logo on my business card (business cards were very important back then:).
So, how do you establish credibility in every speech, presentation, or piece of content you create? I've got you covered.
Here are seven proven strategies to help you build and maintain credibility. Let’s dive in!
#1 – Tell the Audience Why You Are Qualified
Tell them early, but don’t start with it.
Don’t list your accomplishments. Integrate them seamlessly into your narrative.
#2 – Explain it Simply
What matters is not what you understand, but what the audience understands.
Give them aha moments, and watch your credibility grow.
#3 – Tell Stories
Everyone can be a fact-teller. Be a storyteller.
Talk like the greats and people will see you as one of them.
#4 – Show the Proof
Share research, sources, data – the audience will be more willing to believe you and your argument.
#5 – Present with Confidence
Master your Body, Mind and Words (= my BMW method) to turn adrenaline into attention and nervousness into passion.
#6 - Connect with the Audience
You want to be confident but not cocky.
The audience craves an emotional connection but won’t love anyone they perceive as aloof.
#7 - Ask Me Anything
Offer to answer any question at the end. Nothing shouts “I know my stuff” louder than being roasted by the audience.
In case you wonder about “looking the part” – research shows that audiences use appearance merely as a filter.
Once you look like someone who knows something, appearance doesn’t matter a great deal.
Remember, credibility isn’t built overnight — it’s crafted through every word, story, and interaction. Start using these strategies today, and watch as trust, engagement, and success naturally follow.
OLIVER'S RECOMMENDATION CORNER
The School of Hiring
Hiring is a critical part of running a business. No people, no business. But finding the right people at the right time can be a massive challenge (and if you are like me, you may have never formally learned how to hire).
The person I turn to for all questions on hiring is my close friend Konstanty Sliwowski, founder of the School of Hiring and a regular guest on the Speak Like a CEO podcast (check out our episode 244 on how to communicate when your career changes).
Konstanty provides hands-on advice and training that empowers leaders to hire effectively, build stronger teams, and reduce hiring costs – all without relying on recruiters or external agencies. If hiring is part of your job, visit www.schoolofhiring.com, check out the School of Hiring podcast or reach out to Konstanty on konstanty@schoolofhiring.com.
PODCAST
The Secret Ingredient to Win Over Your Team
I do a podcast to help you become a top 1% communicator. Please subscribe on Apple or Spotify.
When you manage change within a company, the pressure is on. The future of the business may be at stake. So how do you turn resistance into results?
This week, I am joined by Frank Wolf on the Speak Like a CEO podcast. Frank is the co-founder of Staffbase, a leading employee communication platform used by global brands like Adidas, DHL and Domino’s.
As one of THE experts in the world on future trends in communications, Frank is the author of The Narrative Age: How Leaders can Inspire Change in a Polarized World.
The secret ingredient to win over your team? Narratives. But you have to know how to use them, how they are different from stories and which mistakes to avoid.
Tune in and turn resistance into results.
Listen on Spotify and Apple:
BOOK
How to Handle Crucial Conversations
When the stakes are high, opinions vary, and emotions run strong, you have three choices: avoid a crucial conversation and let resentment grow; handle it badly and suffer the consequences; or handle it well and create a positive outcome.
Ironically, the more crucial the conversation, the less likely we are to handle it well. Being totally honest and totally respectful at the same time is tough.
With over 5 million copies sold, Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When The Stakes Are High is a classic that has recently been updated with new approaches for today’s communication challenges in the workplace.
Two key take-aways for me: 1) When people play games, ask: “Are we in dialogue, or are we playing games?” 2) Make it safe to create a positive outcome, e.g. by smiling, asking for the other person’s opinion or suggesting a brief time-out.
If you handle difficult conversations at work, Crucial Conversations is a great place to start.
On that note...
Have an inspired weekend!
Best,
Oliver
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