There is no avoiding the truth about leadership. Leadership is uncomfortable and despite the picture some self-described success stories portray, it is hard.

Sometimes, it's just plain crabby.

Leadership causes you to question everything you’ve known about yourself to be true. It keeps you up at night, has you second guessing your actions, replaying your conversations.

The challenges leaders face are endless: unmotivated workers, disconnected systems, unsupportive management, and unyielding family members.

As a leader, you will challenge the status quo and be questioned. You will question an assumption and be challenged. You will be scrutinized, misrepresented, overlooked, conflicted, debated and opposed. You will notice you are working longer but not accomplishing more, fighting harder to hold your ground, finding fault with others or questioning the value of your leadership and your vision.

You will take business decisions personally or blame all of your woes on another person. You will sulk. You will cry. Your fight or flight response will kick in and you will begin developing your exit (read: avoidance) strategy.

You will question your decisions, the motives of others and whether leadership is even something worth doing.

Do it anyway.

What percentage of human resource professionals and leaders would you say face credibility challenges each day? Is it 25%? 50%? 75%?

My answer is . . . 100% Yes, 100%. Notice I did not say 99.99% to save a spot for me - or for you, either.

As human resource professionals and leaders, we face credibility challenges every day. Each and every one of us. You are fooling yourself if you are listening to that little voice in your head telling that this does not affect you.

Just think about what we do. When is the last time you dealt with a black and white issue? Why is it that issues are never black and white? Our issues are gray and our work puts us in the center of many storms and in interactions with others. Your credibility is on the line in each interaction and, should you falter, the next interaction is an opportunity to establish, or reestablish, your credibility.

One on my go-to articles is Leader's Credibility is Golden. John Baldoni's reference to credibility as a leader's coin of the realm always has me thinking chocolate gold coins. His points about character, acknowledging your shortcomings and living your values are spot on. Read them, remember them and tell me what you would add to the list.

Go forth and build some credibility today.

Blog

The Crabby Truth About Leadership

HR Leaders: Your Credibility is Golden

Lisa Rosendahl