subject: How To Avoid Destroying Your Credibility [print this page] In this world of odds and ends, people may never have thought of it but if there is one thing in this world that will make everything realistic and true, it is credibility. With the continuous growth of fraudulent cases, scam, and any kind of deception, it really pays to be credible.
Credibility refers to the reliability and integrity of a particular announcement or testimonial, source, or action, together with the aptitude of the spectator to accept the announcement as true.
In a certain social science research conducted in the modern era, three dimensions of credibility were identified. These are trustworthiness, competence, and dynamism.
The Ethical Aspect of Maintaining Credibility
If you are a journalist, you should know how important it is to be credible. People believe whatever you tell them to believe. News may come and go but the kind of credibility that you impose on them is the most important element in creating news stories.
The right of any person to attract and hold listeners or readers of his statements in print is restricted by nothing but considerations of public welfare. The use of different forms of mass media comprises the share of public attention to determine its sense of responsibility.
It is your responsibility to maintain your integrity and avoid destroying your credibility. Here is how you should do it:
1. Be sincere in everything that you say or do
Good faith with the readers and listeners is the foundation of all people worthy of the name. By every consideration of good faith, a person is constrained to be truthful. It is not to be excused for lack of thoroughness or accuracy within its control or failure to obtain command of these essential qualities.
2. Always give some supportive details
Saying some statements may not be enough to convince people to believe you. Your statements should be fully warranted by the contents of your supporting details, which they surmount. This will give your reader or listener a clear view of what you want to convey.
3. Maintain vigorous standards of honesty
Always keep in mind to uphold dynamic standard of honesty and fair play in the selection and evaluation of the things you are about to say as well as in all relations with your sources and the public.
4. Be objective
It would be easier for you to avoid destroying your credibility if you will more dispassionate in dealing with controversial subjects or issues. It would be better if you will treat each matter with impartiality. This will greatly help you deviate from destroying your credibility.
5. Be humble
Many people tend to lose their credibility just for the simple reason that they are too arrogant. In turn, they may not be aware of it but they will, in time, lose their credibility if they will continue to be proud of the things that he achieved.
Practice humility and tolerance in the face of honest conflicting opinions or disagreement.
6. Listen to what others are saying
Provide a time or space for listening to what other people might be saying against you. Consider the pertinent comments and criticisms that they say to you, especially if it is in conflict with the others point of view.
7. Define sources
Clearly define sources of your statements, and tell your listeners or readers when competent sources cannot be identified.
In the world of Journalism, putting some information off-the-record is essential. This means that if your resource person or any source of information asks not to be identified or keep the information off-the-record, you should not continue in stating these things.
8. Build integrity at the ground level
In order to avoid destroying your credibility, it is best that you build a solid foundation on integrity.
The word stands for wholesomeness or completeness. It connotes perfection of its parts. It means honesty in every sense of the word.
To be credible is to reject any means of deceit, lying, cheating, fraud, stealing, dishonesty, and hypocrisy.
Integrity is the essence of self-respect. One should love himself and keep his dignity. To be able to assert oneself without being arrogant is not diplomacy but the art of self-respect. This is being honest to oneself.
Given all these facts, the basis of human dignity is often constructed and founded on credibility. Through credibility, people will be able to construct the possible values that experts consider as the core element in education and eventual transformation of the people.
