#195: How to build your credibility - Tash Corbin, Heart-Centred Business Podcast

In today's episode, we're going to be talking about how to build your credibility as a business owner and entrepreneur.  I understand that in times gone by, your credibility was measured by the size of the shoulder pads in your jacket, but those days are gone. I absolutely adore talking about this topic. And I'm really excited about this podcast episode as well because it allows me to be talking about something that we see online, and we "kind of" think we need to do it and we're not 100% sure. And I have some very specific advice in this space.   More and more these days online, we hear about this need for credibility and creating "expert status" for yourself. We talk here about social proof and all of the things that help people to make a decision to invest with you. And people want to work with leaders. They want to work with experts. They want to work with people they trust and who are really credible. I totally understand that this can be something that we think is very important when we first start our business. But in today's episode, I want to actually talk about decreasing the need for projecting credibility and expert status and also creating a sense of expert credibility in an authentic, heart centred way. So first of all, let's talk about why we think we need to have this expert status or credibility. Why do people crave it? I find that, particularly for women in the online business world, it's because we don't want to have to sell ourselves. So we actually look to external validation in order to make us feel like we are a trusted source, we are an expert, we are valuable, we are worthy.  But by trying so hard to keep seeking out all of this expert status and proof of credibility, we are often devaluing what we are actually worth. We are devaluing what we have to offer. We are saying to ourselves, the universe, and potential customers and clients: “I'm only valuable and reliable and a valid source for you because I've got this expert status, because of something that's outside of me.” You might feel that same resistance to selling yourself, you might feel that same resistance to just standing in your power, and being yourself and saying: This is who I am and this is what I have to offer you. I understand why that feels like a real safety net to have that expert status, to have that external validation, to have that credibility, and to say, I've got the certificate, or I've got this or I've got that - I totally understand. And there are better ways that you can create that credibility. But I want us to cover that off at the end of this podcast episode, once we have actually reduced the need for it, after we recognize that our desire for that expert status or credibility is just a crutch. It's a sense that because this trusted source says “I'm good,” or because all of these people give you social proof that it means "I'm good." So we're going to actually reduce the need for it first, and then we're going to build your credibility and expert status in a heart centred, very authentic, very connected way. So first of all, let's reduce the need for it. All that I've just explained to you may have worked in the past.  For most people, after they've heard all that they think, "Oh my gosh, I'm totally trying to hide behind my 17 certificates." Or "Oh my gosh, I'm totally trying to use 45 testimonials in my webinars, because I don't want to say that I'm good. I want other people to say that I'm good." So even just knowing what's going on for yourself can often reduce that desire to have all of this external validation. People trust it less these days. You knLet me know your thoughts via our Text FanMail!Join us in Noosa at the Heart-Centred Business Conference in September!Find out more and secure your ticket at: tashcorbin.com/conference