10 Steps to Build Credibility at Work

When it comes to doing your job and doing it well, everyone wants to be respected and valued. The easiest way to gain the trust and respect of your coworkers is to have credibility in your workplace.

But what is credibility? Credibility is the character trait of being honest and reliable. It’s essential to know how to build credibility at work. Having credibility in your workplace can be easily achieved in these ten simple steps.

Be Good at Your Job

The best way to build credibility is to show through your actions that you know what you are talking about. You can acknowledge your strengths at work by using them to complete tasks and work at improving your weaknesses. Do your job well by being punctual, knowledgeable about your line of work and the project you are working on, and submitting well to your supervisors.

Be a Lifelong Learner

Always be working towards learning something new in your line of work. No one person knows everything there is to know about any subject. No one likes the know-it-all in the office building, so make sure that you are not boastful and prideful in your workplace. There is always more to learn in every line of work, and you can build credibility at work by showing that you are always ready and willing to expand your knowledge and learn more.

Take Criticism to Heart

Supervisors and coworkers watch you work and observe your strengths and weaknesses differently than you would. If anyone has input about your job performance, listen to what they have to say. They might have some insight that can help you become even better at your job. Being open to criticism shows the people around you that you are willing to learn and adapt as your work environment grows and changes. It takes humility to admit your own faults and learn from them - but humility is another character trait that builds your credibility at work. To learn more about taking responsibility for your mistakes and weaknesses, click here.

Take More Responsibility at Work

If you have time and energy to spare, and you’re able to take on more tasks at work, talk to your supervisor. Your supervisors and coworkers will respect you even more if you step up and ask for more to do. It’s important to ensure that you have the ability and resources to take on more responsibility before you do so that you are still doing your job to the best of your ability. You might want to read our detailed article on how to take more responsibility at work and how it benefits your career.

Have Honesty and Integrity

These character traits may sound like part of being a decent human being, but the truth is, true honesty and integrity can be hard to find. How do you act when you think no one is watching you? Be honest about the time you work, about clocking in and out. Be honest when you communicate with coworkers and supervisors, and treat everyone around you with respect. Lying about deadlines or responsibilities at work might cover your mistakes momentarily, but it doesn’t help anyone in the long run. When looking for how to build credibility at work, start with these important character traits.

Always Be Prepared

It’s the boy scouts’ motto, but it applies in our everyday lives, and it definitely applies at work. Think of someone who is never prepared: a student who did not study for a test, a camper who did not bring a tent or a doctor who did not clean his supplies before surgery. Do you think of these three fictional individuals as credible people for their tasks or as knowledgeable in their field? Most likely, you don’t think these people are credible. The same idea applies to your credibility in the workplace. Be prepared for your day ahead: be aware of what meetings and projects are on the calendar for the week. Know what big picture tasks lie ahead of this month. Have the supplies you need ready to be used. You can build credibility at work by being prepared.

Ask Questions

Don’t ever be afraid to admit that you don’t know everything. Everyone admires humility in a coworker. If there is a project with unclear instructions or deadlines, or if you leave a meeting feeling confusion instead of clarity, ask questions to clear the air. In turn, do your best to make sure that you communicate your own desires, wishes, and timelines for projects at work so that no one misunderstands what you say or what you may need from them.

Communicate With Your Supervisors and Coworkers

This is the second part of communicating and asking questions, as listed directly before this point. Often, things can get lost in communication in the workplace. Tasks may not get completed on time if the deadlines are unclear or if instructions seem murky. Constant meetings may seem like a chore, but weekly meetings may help clear the dark water of workplace tasks and ensure that every part is taken care of.

Be Friendly to Those Around You

Charisma and likeability matter a lot in a work environment. You don’t need to be best friends with every person who works around you, but it is important to be likable and friendly. You don’t necessarily need to hang out with your coworkers and supervisors outside of work. Still, you do need to be familiar with their lives and show that you care about their hobbies, families, and general well-being. When your coworkers hear your name or think of you, it is good for your credibility if they think of you in high regard and admires you as a person.

Being friendly at work can build your credibility, and it can be as easy as asking your coworkers how their weekends were or if they have anything fun planned outside of work this month. Show interest in their personal lives and family relationships. Being friendly can still be casual and can build your general likeability and, therefore, your credibility, too.

Be a Leader

Leadership is an important part of how to build credibility at work. Most people think of a leader as a supervisor, boss, or someone who has authority in the workplace. However, a leader isn’t defined by a salary or a job title. A leader is someone who shows all of the above character traits. Building leadership traits is as simple as doing your job to the best of your ability and being a well-liked and respected person in your office. The very definition of the word credibility is the trait of respect, honesty, and reliability. This is also part of the definition of being a good leader. If you’d like more information on charismatic leadership, you can read more about being a good, charismatic leader.

Discussing how to build credibility at work can be very daunting and overwhelming. It’s overwhelming to talk about the different things to add to your work life, the relationships to cultivate, the communication to improve, and the effort to put in. It is easy to get into the rhythm and routine of everyday life and forget that we need to do our best for our jobs and our lives in general. It is much easier to blend into the background of our work environment. It’s even easier to do the bare minimum at work, clock out, and go home for the evening.

Building credibility at work takes more work, and it’s not as easy as choosing to blend in. It’s more challenging to step up and ask for more responsibility. It’s even harder to invest in your coworkers and do your best to be a leader in every area of your life. All in all, doing the more difficult thing is better for everyone in the long run. The bottom line is that being a good person at your job is all you need to build the credibility at work that you desire.

Building credibility at work comes with its rewards. The reward may not always be a salary increase or a promotion. Although it may be those things, it can also be the simple reassurance that you are doing the best you can and that people respect you. Respect and honesty are the main traits of credibility, so start there when it comes to building credibility at work.


About the Author
Hi there, I'm James, founder of Melbado. I have over 20 years of experience as a leader and entrepreneur. Recently, I turned to leadership coaching and writing to pass on my knowledge to the next generation. If you have any questions or comments, please contact me via our contact page.

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