We tend to believe and follow sources of information and people that appear to us to be most credible. It is easy for something or someone to appear credible to others if they offer something that is obvious and agreeable to the larger group. If they were to try and convince others of something less known, credibility is harder to have been earned.

For a new or lesser known point of view to be accepted, persuasion and the perceived character of the person are more clearly evaluated. More will need to see the professed outcome before they would believe the point of view. Credibility often must be earned so that loyalty ensues.

Credibility is also quickly lost. If the credible one is dishonest at any point, others may quickly abandon their belief that the person is credible. We hold credible people with high esteem until they would have lied to us and made us look foolish for having believed.

To be and remain credible for others is a challenge. To simply believe and follow another is quite simple and often temporary. In balance, hold to your beliefs, but keep an open mind to determine the credibility of what and whom you would follow. Carefully manage your own credibility, remaining honest and of high character in your words and in your actions.

“To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; credible we must be truthful.” — Edwin R. Murrow —

MITM