If ever we needed a renewed discussion of credible leadership, it is now!\n\nSo what are we to do? What positive actions can any of us take to restore trust and confidence, and to rebuild and strengthen credibility over time?\n\nFortunately, with the publication this month of the all new and revised Credibility: How Leaders Gain and Lose It, Why People Demand It, Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner have given us not only the tools to take action to strengthen our leadership credibility but, importantly, a reason for hope.\n\nAnecdotes and stories of leaders and constituents bring to life nearly 30 years of research as Credibility examines the six core disciplines required to build and sustain credibility:\n

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  1. Discover Yourself begins the credibility journey through self-reflection of credos, competence, confidence, and character.

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  2. Appreciate Constituents underscores the importance of listening—and listening well—to the dreams and aspirations of others and keeping their best interests at heart.

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  3. Affirm Shared Values demonstrates the importance of building commitment to find common ground among diverse viewpoints and resolve conflicts on the basis of principles, not position.

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  4. Develop Capacity focuses on the need for leaders to continually build competence and confidence, provide space and freedom for constituents to make choices, and create a culture that accepts mistakes as a way of learning from experience.

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  5. Serve a Purpose revisits one of the book’s fundamental truths—constituents do not serve leaders; leaders serve constituents—to examine the many ways that credible leaders go first, stay in touch, admit mistakes, and make meaning.

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  6. Sustain Hope reminds us all that “hope is an attitude in action” and shows how credible leaders keep hope alive by painting positive images of the future, working in the trenches through good times and bad, and setting the bar with the kind of positive, confident, can-do approach that is essential to achieving the highest levels of performance.

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\n“The only antidote to the increased cynicism and stresses of these times,” the authors declare, “is renewed faith in human capacity and an intensely optimistic belief that together leaders and constituents can overcome the difficulties of today and tomorrow.”\n\nAnd for those looking for a great tool to extend the practice of the disciplines and principles described in the book, a companion volume, Strengthening Credibility: A Leader’s Workbook, will publish simultaneously to provide many developmental and application exercises for aspiring leaders.\n\nTerri Armstrong Welch is an independent writer and editor contributing to the marketing and editorial programs at Pfeiffer, including The Leadership Challenge product line. A former member of the Jossey-Bass team, she can be reached at booksmatter@comcast.net and at yourrockstarwriter.wordpress.com\n\n