When is a leader considered to lack credibility?

A leader is considered to lack credibility when honesty is absent because credibility is fundamentally built on trust. When a leader fails to communicate truthfully, it erodes the trust that employees and stakeholders place in them. Honesty helps to establish a solid foundation for relationships within teams and organizations. Without honesty, even well-intentioned actions can be viewed with skepticism, and the leader's ability to influence and motivate others diminishes significantly. This lack of trust can lead to a disengaged workforce, as employees may feel uncertain about the information they receive and the integrity of their leader.

In contrast, transparency, encouraging feedback, and setting clear expectations are all practices that can enhance a leader's credibility. Being fully transparent fosters open communication, encouraging employee feedback shows that a leader values others' opinions, and establishing clear expectations helps create a shared understanding of goals and responsibilities. These actions contribute positively to a leader's credibility, unlike the absence of honesty, which fundamentally undermines it.