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Three Pillars of Credibility: Expertise, Trustworthiness, & Goodwill

I’ve always considered myself credible in my professional and personal work. Of course, it might be easier for me to trust myself than it is for someone else to trust me, especially when it comes to the professional world. Whalen (2007) identified “Three Pillars of Credibility: Expertise, Trustworthiness, and goodwill” (p. 123). I currently run my own business that facilitates training and education programs for nonprofits and government organizations. An area where I am still trying to establish myself is in expertise. Eric Hornfeld, the person, has a bachelor’s degree and some experience running training programs for a variety of organizations. HTS, the organization is young with less than one year in operation and just a few contracts in its portfolio. When it comes to credibility, the area where I’d like to develop is in Expertise. The other two pillars of credibility, Trustworthiness, and Goodwill, take time and exposure to develop (Whalen, 2007). I believe that I am able to develop these with the organizations that I work with. With my work being primarily in government and nonprofit work, the goodwill toward my constituents is a prerequisite to working with them, and my trustworthiness is demonstrated in my actual work. The first pillar, expertise, in my mind is assessed in advance and is based on factors that I cannot change or address in an interaction. For these reasons, I see it as an opportunity to develop.


Image from: http://www.clipartpanda.com/categories/credibility-clipart 


Whalen (2007) identifies other professionals’ esteem, educational degrees as keystones of expertise when it comes to credibility. In writing this blog and reflecting deeply on my leadership skills, potential, opportunities, and deficits I am helping to develop my advancement academically. In just a matter of months, I will complete all of the requirements to earn the Master of Science in Leadership with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. In addition to education, the way that other professionals talk about my work also speaks to my level of expertise. From each of my clients and the volunteers and community member trainees, I gather satisfaction survey data. These recommendations, reactions, and reviews help me to build my reputation as someone who provides an excellent service as a trainer and consultant.

Action Plan to Improve Expertise 

In order to enhance my expertise in an effort to be more credible to existing and potential clients I will do the following:

  • Complete the Master of Science in Leadership degree
    • add it MSLD to my Linkedin, resume, and website.
    • Gather additional recommendations and reviews from current, past, and future trainees and clients
      • add these personal recommendations to my website and LinkedIn.

    • Secure additional clients and serve them well to earn positive regard.




      References

      Whalen, D. J. (2007). The professional communications toolkit. SAGE Publications.
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      Comments

      1. LLFMSLDMarch 1, 2021 at 1:05 PM

        Congratulations on your business and going to school!

        ReplyDelete

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