On Saturday nights at the moment, I sometimes have the misfortune of watching that great entertainment that my daughters avidly watch – the X Factor!! This is an example of “reality” TV, in which nothing is real and all is fixed.
On some days when I come home from work, I find my daughter watching a program with the unlikely title “The Real Housewives of ……” (there are several series with different places!) She goes mad when I say it should be called “ The Unreal Housewives of….” as there is nothing real about it – everything is fake about their lives and their bodies!!
I am currently working my way through a set of podcasts by Mike Breaux of Heartlands Community Church (ex-Willowcreek) called “Unreality” where he talks of how if something is not real, but attempts are made to make them look real, they stand out and can be seen right through.
As leaders of organisations, credibility is so important. There is nothing worse for our fellow leaders, staff, customers, members and supporters if we try to be something other than ourselves. We must be real, be true to ourselves, if we are to have credibility with others. If we try to be something that we are not it is so obvious, and once we lose our credibility it can be so difficult to get it back.
So, think about how important your credibility is to you. How important is it to you and your organisation for people to believe in you?
To go a long way to keeping your credibility, stick to your principles at all times. Act in the way you normally do. Articulate your views in the way that you always do. Don’t suddenly change the way that you act or speak. Don’t try to be something that you are obviously not.
Credibility is worth a lot to you – and your organisation, so make sure that you keep yours intact. Be real at all times.