The credo strategy - to show people who you are without bragging

Let's say that you agree that showing people who you are is an essential part of leadership, because...

If you aren't seen for who you are,

You can't attract kindred spirits,

And if you can't attract kindred spirits,

You can't lead.

But...

You hate the idea of bragging.

What can you do instead?

You can use what I call the credo strategy.

Bragging means that when you talk about yourself...

You step back and away. You evaluate yourself with judgmental terms as though you're an outside expert.

The credo stance means...

You stay inside yourself and speak from your heart.

Bragging...

Puts a little chill in the air.

The credo approach...

Warms up the conversation.

Bragging means you sound like this...

I'm great because I...

I'm the best because I...

Credo comments begin with phrases like these...

I do this work because I believe so deeply in...

I love what I do because...

This work means the world to me because...

I got into this work because...

I stay with this work because...

Bragging, since it's an evaluation, can be contested.

With a credo statement, you're talking about what's true for you, so while people might not believe in the same things you believe in, you're simply revealing to them who you are and that can't be contested.

And best of all, you're maximizing...

The power of your personal presence.

For this reason the credo strategy is particularly useful in a job interview. It's a lovely way to show people who you are so they can make a real decision about whether you're a match for what they need or not. And you don't want to be passed over for a great job because you're being too modest.

Another way to explain what I mean by credo is to simply say that you talk with people in a heartfelt way about...

Your personal mission.

What guides you.

What calls you most deeply.

What you stand for.

What you hope for.

And compared to the cramped grinchiness of summary evaluative statements, this is refreshing and enlivening.

 

Note:  What you see here is just a draft of this page. I'll be adding more during 2011.

 

© 2011 Rich Snowdon