Updated from February 5, 2015 post
The Global Leadership Summit season now turns its attention from the original gathering, which took place at Willow Creek in Chicago, and now looks ahead to our international events.
It was at the site of our GLS in Hong Kong where, earlier this year, Bill Hybels coached a group of leaders and provided a crucial leadership warning.
The warning? Watch out for credibility killers.
A leader had asked Bill, “What would you say about a problem I have that I believe is hurting my leadership. At work I tend to have a very bad temper and I think it is hurting my effectiveness.”
Bill let the comment hang in the air a moment or two, then responded with wisdom, clarity and kindness.
“First of all,” Bill began, “Thank you for the vulnerability you have shown in asking such a question. That shows courage. Now, to your question about losing your temper, I have two words you need to hear; ‘Understandable’, and ‘inexcusable’.”
Bill went on to explain.
“That lack of control will undermine your leadership at its core. It’s understandable, in that anger is a very human emotion. But it’s inexcusable in that when your teammates see you lose control your credibility takes an enormous hit.”
Immediately, I scrawled this line across my notebook, “Consistently losing your temper is a credibility killer.”
But I would later fill in my page with what I reflected were other “credibility killers”. Credibility killers happen when leaders consistently
- Fail to follow through on commitments
- Tell half-truths
- Avoid the hard conversations
- Don’t put in a full day’s work
- Blame others when goals are not met
- Display lack of competence in key functions
- Belittle others
- Claim credit for others’ work or ideas
- “Spin” bad news
- Display arrogance
This list is merely the tip of the credibility iceberg.
The reality is, credibility is the currency of leadership. Without it effective leadership becomes almost impossible.
This is why, I believe, Bill took time to patiently explain the vital importance of this principle.
And it’s why every leader needs to take a close look at any credibility-killers that might be eroding their leadership effectiveness.
Because when credibility is gone, it’s tough to get it back.
What would you add to this list?
