Introduction

Two essential ingredients sorely needed in the corporate world these days are credibility and reputation.  Aside from skills, these twins are indispensable qualities that would give you a leverage among peers.  Therefore, this paper will discuss them beginning with an understanding of the concepts, their importance, and how to go about building professional credibility and reputation.

Concept of Credibility and Reputation

Credibility: The term, ‘Credibility’ derived from the word, ‘credible’ and has to do with trust, reliability, and originality.  It simply means to stand for, and be identified with truth in all circumstances.  Professionally, this attribute is carried on to the working environment.  It means making your word your bond; you promise and you over-deliver.  For instance, you secured a contract which must be completed within three days; but you finished and delivered the job within two days! The consistency of this performance will earn you credibility.  Apart from turn-around-time, quality service also counts for credibility.  A client is interested in your product or services because of the timeliness of delivery; the goodwill you established has earned you credibility.

Credibility takes time to build; it is the outcome of years of disciplined and unbroken commitments as well as satisfactory performances. This makes your clients to perceive you as being competent, reliable and worthy of patronage.

Reputation: On the other hand, reputation has to do with the impression gained from your observed character over a period of time at work or in the community.  It is the thing you are known for, or that is identified with you.

Reputation is also acquired based on years of accomplishments or disappointments, testimonies of interpersonal relationships, and reactions to people and situations in moments of social crisis, economic downturn or marital turbulence.  Reputation is an offshoot of credibility.  While credibility speaks about your abilities, reputation is the testimonial about your attitude over a period of time.

The Importance of Professional Credibility and Reputation

Credibility and reputation are not optional.  They are both essential ingredients to keep you afloat professionally in the corporate world.  Specifically, they:

  • Enhance Trust: Clients prefer to relate with vendors to whom they can entrust their products and services and give responsibility. Professionals with credibility and reputation are given priority.
  • Open Doors of Opportunity: Credibility and reputation are silent recommendations. They quietly promote partnerships and connect to available job or contract openings without advertisements.
  • Accelerate Growth: A culture of consistent performance attracts repeated patronage, and enhances upward mobility. This is the outcome of high level of credibility and reputation.
  • Enlarge Clientele: A good reputation attracts more and more clients and repeat referrals. The reverse is the case for a damaged reputation.  When reputation attracts, credibility will retain the customers.

 

  • Offer Competitive Advantage: A credible and reputable professional has a competitive advantage over their peers as well as others aside from skill or expertise.
  • Strengthen Professional Bond: Credibility and reputation enhance the integrity of the professional association, and strengthen its unity. Quacks and charlatans are reduced to the barest minimum in the industry.
  • Stabilize Professionalism: Credible and reputable experts enhance their marketability over a period of time because they will become the preferred and go-to specialists who have been tested and trusted.
  • Become Trademark: Credibility and reputation reveal your identity, your brand and your trademark.  They say much about your values, and become the public perception of your personality.
  • Mitigate Challenges: Another importance of professional credibility and reputation is that they serve as buffer in times of adversity.  They cushion the biting effect of unfavourable economic climate and low business turnover. They do this by connecting you with long forgotten clients who need your services at a time you least expect.
  • Build Mentorship Potential: Young people are interested in credible and reputable individuals whom they could follow as their mentor.  They look up to such experts as models, and would want to tap from their wealth of experience.

 

How to Build Professional Credibility and Reputation

Building professional credibility and reputation is not accomplished overnight.  It takes time, money, efforts as well as patience and endurance.  Therefore, the following strategies have been identified as ingredients that could assist in building professional credibility and reputation.

  • Life-long Learning: Embrace the habit of continuous professional education. You can achieve this by attending conferences, training workshops, reading, as well as pursuing relevant systematic course of studies.

  • Intentional Practice: Make it a point of duty to display integrity.  You can do this by keeping to deadlines, keeping your promises, and maintaining ethical standards in all your activities.  Another strategy is to commit yourself to a colleague, a peer or an authority figure who could correct you pointedly without mincing words. And you should be ready to take responsibility for your actions and correct your mistakes.
  • Excellent Service: Let excellence be your watchword in all you do.  This involves total quality management, and top quality service delivery.
  • Communication Skills: Demonstrate good communication skills.  Speak courteously, listen with rapt attention, and provide feedback politely, clearly and unambiguously.
  • Online Presence: The corporate world is now a digital village. So, put your business on social platforms and update your profile regularly.  Participate actively in your professional community; be a contributor and an asset to the industry.   These would strengthen your visibility and enhance your value.
  • Strategic Networking: Search for and connect with colleagues who share the same ideas with you. Be involved in industry events and collaborate with others on project activities. Be a solution provider and share information with others.
  • Embracing Feedback: Encourage constructive criticism, and relate with colleagues who can hold you responsible for your actions.  Surround yourself with check and balance mechanisms in all you do.  This will keep you on your toes and protect your integrity.
  • Self-Control: Exercise restraint, and self-control in critical moments.  Maintain decorum and self-composure even in the midst of provocations.
  • Being Solution-Oriented: Handle challenges confidently. Be cool, calm and composed. Think outside the box and support team efforts.

Conclusion

It has been shown from the foregoing that professional credibility and reputation remain indispensable not only to survive but also to thrive in the language industry.  Therefore, conscious efforts must be made to develop and maintain these virtues because they can make or mar your business.

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Dr. Samson Adeyekun is the CEO, Business Health Support.  www.businesshealthsupport.com.ng. Email: sofunbejnigltd@gmail.com. +234 816 581 8592. Lagos.