Credibility at work is essential to have one’s ideas heard and valued, to be entrusted with higher-level responsibilities and better opportunities, and to get a sense of progress, purpose, and belonging. To become a credible team member, one needs to earn trust from colleagues, managers, stakeholders, and others. Building credibility requires more than just competence and knowledge. It requires simple habits and practices that one can incorporate into their daily work.

One of the strategies to become a more credible team member is to do things without being asked. Completing assigned tasks establishes sincerity, but to establish credibility, one must do work without being asked. Identify stakeholders and customers’ unmet needs and contribute to those areas that can deliver the biggest impact. Credibility comes from doing work that no one is paying attention to.

Another way to build credibility is to never say, “it’s not your job.” It is important to be flexible and make oneself available to contribute where one’s presence will matter. This can help gauge the need of the hour and show willingness to get the job done.

Having a strong sense of agency is also essential in building credibility. Instead of waiting for a manager to unblock one, find creative ways to solve the problem and move forward. Approach problems with high agency and find a way to get what one wants without waiting for the conditions to be perfect or otherwise blaming the circumstances. This shows one’s ability to push through in the face of adversity and find a way to get the job done.

Lastly, proactively identifying problems and creating a plan to tackle them upfront is a great way to build credibility. Most employees react to problems as they surface, but it is better to proactively anticipate what might get in the way. Use the premortem technique to work backwards to identify what mistakes might cause the project to fail and create a plan to solve these issues.

In conclusion, building credibility requires earning trust and going beyond one’s role to contribute where it matters. It requires having a strong sense of agency, being proactive in problem-solving, and doing work that no one is paying attention to. Incorporating these simple habits and practices into daily work can help one become a more credible team member and employee.