Increasing Credibility
Imagine this: You are going to meet a prospective business partner, and you’ve never seen the guy before. When he turns up, he is dressed too casually in shirt and three-quarter pants. When he sits down, he does not apologize for being late, and carries a very blasé attitude. In the middle of the discussion, he forgets what he was about to say and fumbles around with fillers for a long time. When you question him, he feels offended and determines that you are mocking him and that you are not sincere in doing business with him. How would you feel?
Naturally, this is a rather exaggerated situation. Such cases may or may not exist, but my point is that there are so many points about you which you may have yet to realise that determines whether you are credible and reliable.
Would you rely on someone who is irresponsible and unprepared? No. Would you rely on someone who can’t even bother to dress up for a meet up with you? I know I wouldn’t. Would you rely on someone who is easily offended? Well, I probably wouldn’t either. It doesn’t make working with him enjoyable and in a business, it is important to maintain a harmonious relationship between you and your partners.
Therefore, here are a few suggestions which you may want to consider in improving yourself and your credibility:
How you look on the outside
Superficial as it may be, but people often unconsciously judge you based on how you look. To create a good first impression is critical to your image. How you dress speaks volumes about your credibility. It’s not about the type of brand that you are wearing, but rather how you are able to come across as a pleasant and presentable being. To play safe, it would be better to choose a classic white top and black/navy bottom. Try to avoid dressing totally in black.
Apart from that, take note of your hair and nails. While I have always been a fan of expressing your own style, it is sadly not a view shared by the rest of the world. No crazy hairstyles, and wildly manicured nails. Keep them neat, and if you must apply nail polish, try to avoid bold colours. Same goes for makeup. Keep it light and neat. If you’d like to, you could always wear a pair of spectacles to carry off a more professional and smart look. It doesn’t matter whether you have a degree or not. We all know that there are plenty of shops selling degree-less spectacles around.
Attitude
Once again, your attitude is very important. Show that you have passion for your work, but be humble; do not be overly-confident as that puts people off. They will simply end up silently waiting in the background for your downfall one day.
If things get heated, it is the best time to show your listening skills instead of trying to prove that you are right. Respect the speaker and allow him to finish what he has to say. When he is finished, you can try to express your views and explain yourself. This way, the speaker will feel respected.
Lastly, watch your tone. Applying the wrong kind of intonation may cause misunderstandings. You can practise this by reading newspaper articles or stories out loud.
Be Honest and Mean What You Say
Developing an honest image is more than just telling the truth. Revealing your agenda while deliberately withholding information compromises your credibility. In a discussion, you should not avoid bringing up any flaws. Rather, you should acknowledge it and try to justify your point of view.
Also, do not make empty promises or promises too big for you to handle. If it has been made, ensure that you follow them through or try to fulfill it. Breaking a promise will only destroy any credibility you have.
Be Organized
Be well-prepared each time you have a meeting with someone. Do some research beforehand to have a deeper understanding of the topic. If it is a presentation, ensure that you are well-prepared by rehearsing it with a friend. Try not to sound too repetitive in your presentation. Also, do not try to smoke your way through because there will definitely be sharp listeners around and if you aren’t prepared, they will know.Jiang Endi