The Growth Mindset

Chapter 6Credibility Is the Foundation

“Watch your thoughts, they become words;

Watch your words, they become actions;

Watch your actions, they become habits;

Watch your habits, they become character;

Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

—Lao Tzu

A growth mindset is rooted in credibility. Great leaders are credible and work hard to stay credible. Credibility is how leaders gain the confidence, trust, hearts, and minds of all the stakeholders—clients, advisors, partners, and colleagues. Credibility is the foundation of leadership, no matter how large or small your team. If people don't believe in the messenger, they won't believe in the message—it's that simple. Credible people under‐promise and over‐deliver. My friend, John Decker, a manager at UBS, wrote a terrific book titled Success Is Not a Secret. When talking about recruiting and retention, John clearly stands out. He writes in his book that “trust is the most important factor in retention. More than anything, trust comes from being truthful. Telling the truth is not always fun, but it's always the right thing to do. Any circumstance can be used to build trust. Even when an advisor asks for something you can't give them, or behaves inappropriately and must be corrected, it is an opportunity to build trust. By being combative, you'll lose them. By being honest, straightforward, and consistent, you'll continue to build that trust.” I have known John for a long time, and he is not afraid to say no and he ...