Building Credibility in the Virtual Information Age

If you are a Webgrrl like me, you are a busy woman of the web trying to make waves yet have a life.  Between email and voice mail piling up, a mound of to dos that needed to get done yesterday, and pressure to continue to push the cutting edge with virtual colleagues from all corners of the globe, how do you ensure people know you are the “go to” person, credible to get things done on time, and with quality, without a slip up that reduces your credibility?

It is important that you take time to build credibility with your boss, with your peers, people that report into you and others across your organization, plus, clients you serve and people you network with in your industry outside of your office.  (that’s a lot!)  This will not only help you to secure your job during an economic downtown, but to aid you in moving ahead in your career and navigating the opportunity landscape.

So, how do you build and keep your credibility without working overtime and being the person that is first in, last out of the office?

 1. Prioritize and Push Back When Needed

Are you getting dumped on by your boss, a project manager, clients and other random people within your organization?  You need to understand what your priorities are and not be afraid to push back.  If you are all of a sudden overwhelmed with things to do, ask your boss what is the most critical item you need to focus on, and then the 1-2 runners up.  Ask your boss who they would recommend delegating certain tasks to and if you need communicate to someone that no one can take on that job today.

2. Email and Virtual Meeting Etiquette

Email should not be ridden with acronyms.  Make sure it is polished and grammatically correct – spell check is automatic, use it.  Also remember that once it’s written in an email it’s like carving something in stone – you can never delete it.

For virtual meetings, acknowledge people as they enter a meeting (if they are late acknowledge them at a break in the meeting or at the end – it’s their fault they were late and it should not interfere with the flow of your meeting).  Be direct in asking for people’s input, and at the end of a meeting ask each person one by one if they have something to add.

3. Face Time

Especially when you are just starting a new job or project, it is critical you meet with key people face to face to help establish a virtual working relationship.

 4. Making Time for People

Don’t hide behind email!  Ensure you are picking up the phone and having face to face meetings with colleagues you work with and your direct reports.  Schedule a bi-weekly one on one with your boss or others to ensure you stay top of mind for the next great project that comes along.

5. Schedule Time to Get Things Done

Do you really need to be on instant messenger every minute?  Or constantly check email?  Block consistent time on your calendar to not take any calls, have meetings or check emails – your colleagues will respect this and work around when you are available.

Remember, you never know when you will all of a sudden be working for a peer, a client, or someone who works for you today – so become someone early on that is credible and respected.

Related posts:

1. Tips on building and fostering online communities
2. Virtually Attend the 2008 IA (Information Architechture) Summit
3. How to manage your Inbox, save time, and respond in a timely manner
4. Project a professional image with your email address
5. Tips for following up with contacts after a meeting or conference