Chapter 3 The Heart: Gaining Credibility
With the foundation of the first four Cs in place, we now arrive at the heart of the compass: Credibility. This is not a C that can be claimed; it can only be earned. It is the natural result of the consistent application of Confidence, Consideration, Collaboration, and Constancy. Credibility: The Keystone of Influence Principle: The quality of being trustworthy and believable, earned through a combination of expertise, integrity and consistent action. In the context of moral ambition, credibility is not just about being good at your job. It is about being a person of integrity. It is the deeply rooted trust that you will do what you say, that your decisions are guided by your values, and that you are genuinely committed to the wellbeing of the team and to the broader mission.
Credibility is what gives a leader the moral authority to ask their team to rise to bold challenges and to navigate difficult change. Without it, even the most inspiring vision will struggle to gain traction.
NEUROSCIENCE OVERVIEW: CREDIBILITY AS A BRAIN MODEL
From a neuroscientific perspective, credibility is the internal model that others form in their brains of a leader’s reliability. This model is built over time through repeated, consistent experiences of the leader’s competence, integrity and care. Once a leader has established a strong neural representation of credibility in the minds of their team, their ability to influence and inspire is significantly amplified.
22 THE 7C LEADERSHIP COMPASS FOR MORAL AMBITION 2025 JONATHAN NORMAND. CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSE
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