As an executive communication coach, I often talk with clients about the importance of credibility or ethos for speakers. If you want people to listen to, care about, and be persuaded by what you say, it is incredibly important to establish credibility with your listeners. If you’re an executive, you are certainly experienced and have many credentials and degrees, but listing those verbally can be boring and at worst may be seen as pretentious!
How do you demonstrate credibility when speaking beyond listing your credentials, degrees, or position? Research in this area breaks credibility down into expertise, trustworthiness, and goodwill of the speaker. One way to boost your credibility across these areas when speaking: with your content.
First, carefully choose and organize your content to demonstrate that you have expertise in this subject area. Show that you have done your homework and are familiar and comfortable with this subject. This starts with clarity and organization of your content to help listeners follow you.
Second, ensure accurate content to establish that you are trustworthy.This means no made-up facts! Accuracy shows that you can be trusted to tell the truth.
Third, show that you feel goodwill toward the listeners. One way you can do this is to admit when you do not know something. Doing so shows you would rather admit your own (small) weakness than send the listeners astray. And of course, you will find the answer and get back to them, because you care about them.
There are many ways to build credibility. Consider how you can integrate expertise, trustworthiness, and goodwill to show listeners you are a credible source of information. If you aren’t sure how to do so, a communication coach makes an excellent partner in strengthening your organization, accuracy, and ability to answer questions.
Do You Sound and Appear Credible When You Speak? (Part 1)
As an executive communication coach, I often talk with clients about the importance of credibility or ethos for speakers. If you want people to listen to, care about, and be persuaded by what you say, it is incredibly important to establish credibility with your listeners. If you’re an executive, you are certainly experienced and have many credentials and degrees, but listing those verbally can be boring and at worst may be seen as pretentious!
How do you demonstrate credibility when speaking beyond listing your credentials, degrees, or position? Research in this area breaks credibility down into expertise, trustworthiness, and goodwill of the speaker. One way to boost your credibility across these areas when speaking: with your content.
First, carefully choose and organize your content to demonstrate that you have expertise in this subject area. Show that you have done your homework and are familiar and comfortable with this subject. This starts with clarity and organization of your content to help listeners follow you.
Second, ensure accurate content to establish that you are trustworthy.This means no made-up facts! Accuracy shows that you can be trusted to tell the truth.
Third, show that you feel goodwill toward the listeners. One way you can do this is to admit when you do not know something. Doing so shows you would rather admit your own (small) weakness than send the listeners astray. And of course, you will find the answer and get back to them, because you care about them.
There are many ways to build credibility. Consider how you can integrate expertise, trustworthiness, and goodwill to show listeners you are a credible source of information. If you aren’t sure how to do so, a communication coach makes an excellent partner in strengthening your organization, accuracy, and ability to answer questions.
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