Credibility is a peculiar currency.
Once gained, multitude of it compounds. Once lost, it is nigh impossible to regain. It’s the one characteristics that leaders must possess if they wish to be effective over time. This should be intuitive: to achieve the unimagined, she must be believed. To be believed, she must be credible.
I’m at that age now where kids are coming to me for advice and mentorship. Kids who are also struggling with mood disorders and trying to make it in the business world. Flattering as that may be, I’m still figuring it out myself and have little wisdom to offer. But among them is something I learned over the years to live by, and in which I have absolute faith to carry me forward. It’s also something I’ve lately spent a lot of time contemplating: credibility.
Credibility is accumulated over time. It is evidenced again and again through action, through delivering on what you promise. Every action, reaction and inaction shape credibility. Credibility without evidence is faith, and the only people obligated to have faith in you is your parents.
I doubt anyone would question the importance of credibility, but it is so much more important when extenuating circumstances compromise your ability to meet ‘normal expectations’, at work and in life.
I learned that the hard way. I struggled in my early 20s. Balancing poverty, depression, three jobs with studying took its toll and my grades suffered. I scraped by enough to graduate with 3rd Class Honours, which might as well have been a fail. It limited my job prospects. And I’ve led down many people in my life, subjecting them to the vicissitudes of my mental state.
The first batch of harsh, blunt and unfiltered advice came from the man who eventually became my first boss. He said: nobody care about your grades when you’re 30. But when you’re young, it’s the best proof that you’re either very clever, or have been diligent enough to put in the work. It’s the easiest proof that you’re a credible candidate. You are either credible or you’re not. Circumstances don’t matter when you have 1 million competitors.
From that day I’d made it my life’s priority to become credible, because with credibility comes all the other good traits attributed to successful leaders. It took some effort because in a depressive cycle, my energy level can be severely limited, as is my motivation and drive to get things done. It can’t be done overnight, and you might need to lose some friends and alienate some people before you realize that the world is rather binary: you’re either reliable or you’re not. When it really counts, others do not and will not give a fuck if you’re mentally ill, even if on the surface they offer understanding and make allowances.
With that said, here are some strategies I use along the way to manage my life.
- Deliver
What is credibility if not demonstrating consistency of words, thought and action? Better to deliver on one thing than promising a thousand and delivering on none. At every work place I’ve known that guy, super keen, super energetic, fluttering around like a butterfly taking on everything and delivering on none. Don’t be that guy. Eventually people stop taking you seriously. Once that happens, good luck trying to effect change.
Delivering is hard. When I first started working it took me twice as long to get half as much done as my colleagues, because I simply did not have the energy or concentration. I secretly worked until midnight to keep up with the day-to-day… which brings us to point 2…
- Know your limits
Know your limits at work and in life. Don’t take on an obligation unless you know you can follow through and deliver to a satisfying degree before the deadline. I think this rule applies to all but it has been invaluable to me. I used to take on everything and agree to everything. Yes, I was closed to being that guy, and often delivered at a quality much less than what should have been possible. Finally I learned to say no.
This is harder than it sounds! It took me ten years to understand how my energy levels fluctuate and to this day I make commitments that I struggle to keep. The world does not run on excuses and other people are not obligated to make special accommodations for you, so better learn your limit and act within them.
- Be honest
I’m not usually forthcoming about mental illness, but I do tell people in advance if I’m not able to deliver. I’d attribute it to my lesser intellect if I must. Without a doubt the one thing that will kill credibility is deceit: that includes lying through omission and obfuscation. Better to admit your limits and say: I’m not able to take this on because I don’t think I can deliver. Trust me: far better to have other people think of you as the reliable person who does less but is always dependable.
- Be deliberate
Slow down. Think before you speak. Think twice before you promise. At all times you are signalling your credibility, and when you only have energy to do one thing, you better make sure you’re sending signals that you can back up through action and evidence.
The process will take years of diligent effort. Knowing that certain traits in my faculties makes me prone to making mistakes that would wreck in one instance all the hard-earned trust, it has been necessary for me take a much more assiduous approach to life. So far it’s paid off.
But another thing: during your life and career you’ll find people who truly understand what it’s like to cope with mental illness at work. More importantly they’re willing and able to shape an environment where you can be productive. Treasure these people, and where possible, become them.
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