PITFALL
SCIENTIFIC BASIS
WARNING SIGNS
SOLUTIONS
Impression management Building credibility on appearance, not results Halo effect Letting one quality (e.g. charisma) mask weaknesses Peter Principle Being promoted to one’s level of incompetence Skill stagnation Failing to develop new skills for a new role Moral licensing Using past good deeds to justify ethical lapses Gradual ethical erosion Small compromises that accumulate over time Ego fragility Credibility dependent on constant external validation Defensive reactivity Attacking those who question your credibility
• You invest more in image than in outcomes • You avoid situations where you might fail • You take credit for others’ work • Your reputation does not withstand closer scrutiny
Anchor your credibility in verifiable achievements Share your mistakes and learning openly Highlight the team’s contributions Admit what you do not know
1. IMAGE-BASED CREDIBILITY
Pitfalls to avoid Credibility
• You rely on past successes without continuing to grow
Commit to continuous learning: coaching, mentoring
2. CREDIBILITY WITHOUT COMPETENCE
• You avoid areas where you lack expertise • You delegate everything you do not master • The team bypasses you on technical decisions
Say, “I’m not the expert here – this person is” Identify the critical skills required for your current role Build the credibility of the entire team Define your non-negotiable red lines Seek guidance from an external adviser, mentor or ethics committee Share your ethical reasoning transparently Encourage the team to challenge you
!
• You justify deviations by referring to past good actions • You make frequent “exceptions” to your principles • You rationalise behaviour you would condemn in others • The team questions your integrity • You react defensively to criticism • You have a constant need for validation • You punish those who challenge you • You avoid situations where you might be questioned
3. CREDIBILITY WITHOUT INTEGRITY
Ground your credibility in your values, not in others’ opinions Thank those who challenge you Demonstrate that you can be questioned Remember: your worth ≠ your performance
4. FRAGILE CREDIBILITY
24 THE 7C LEADERSHIP COMPASS FOR MORAL AMBITION 2025 JONATHAN NORMAND. CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSE
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