The "Credibility Triangle" That Makes You Instantly More Influential

⏳ Read Time: Less than 4 min.

Welcome back to The Winning Edge, where we explore the communication habits and leadership skills that separate high performers from everyone else.

If you’ve ever wondered why some people naturally inspire action—and others struggle to get buy-in—this one’s for you.

Because people don’t follow titles. They follow energy, clarity, and trust.
This week, I’m breaking down a simple framework to lead with all three.
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This Week’s Insights

✅ The “Credibility Triangle” That Makes You Instantly More Influential
✅ The Leadership Mistake That Kills Momentum
✅ Deep Dive: How to Move from Being Heard to Being Followed
✅ AI Tip of the Week – An AI tool that gives you feedback on how you sound as a leader
✅ Quick Hitters to stay sharp and show up strong

THE MAIN EVENT
🎤 The “Credibility Triangle”

Here’s something most leadership courses won’t teach you:
Your influence isn’t based on your title—it’s based on how people experience you.

If you're leading a team, presenting to stakeholders, or selling a vision, think about this triangle:

🔺 Competence – Do they believe you know your stuff?
💬 Show: Insight, preparation, relevant experience.

🔺 Warmth – Do they feel seen and safe around you?
💬 Show: Empathy, listening, relatability.

🔺 Conviction – Do they feel your belief in what you’re saying?
💬 Show: Clear stance, strong energy, specific asks.

If even one point of the triangle is missing, trust erodes.

💡 Try this: Before your next high-stakes conversation, ask yourself:

Small shifts in presence = big shifts in perception.

QUICK HITTERS: Fast Wins for the Week

💡 Tip of the Week: Influence doesn’t start with “Here’s what I want.” It starts with, “Here’s what I understand.”

📊 Stat of the Week: Leaders who exhibit both warmth and competence are 3x more likely to be rated as effective by their teams. (Harvard Business Review)

🎭 Power Move: At the end of your next update or meeting, add this:

“Here’s what I need from you.”
Clear leadership = Clear action.

📖 Recommended Read: “The Trusted Advisor” by David Maister – A goldmine for understanding how to build influence without pushing.

WEEKLY DEEP DIVE
From Being Heard to Being Followed

You can be smart, articulate, and prepared—and still struggle to get traction.

Why? Because being heard ≠ being followed.

Here’s what bridges the gap:

🔹 Clarity over complexity
You don’t need all the answers—you need to make next steps unmistakable.

🔹 Momentum over perfection
People follow leaders who move. Don’t wait for perfect data—show a direction.

🔹 Belonging over authority
Want buy-in? Use language like “we,” “together,” and “with your input.”
You build commitment by building shared ownership.

🚀 Mini challenge: In your next team conversation or client call, lead with a shared goal, clarify the next action, and close with conviction.
You’ll feel the shift—immediately.

AI TIP OF THE WEEK

📌 Tool: ChatGPT (Pro feature)

🎤 Prompt to Try:

💡 Why it works: ChatGPT can act like a virtual communication coach, analyzing your word choice, structure, and tone—and offering upgrades in real time. Think of it like a “Yoodli for your writing” with coaching built in.

✅ Bonus: Save your own Custom GPT inside ChatGPT Pro (e.g., “Leadership Message Coach”) and reuse it anytime you're prepping for a presentation, 1:1, or high-stakes conversation.

WINNING WITH AI: The Future of Sales Proposals and Presentations

AI isn’t just for tech geeks or big corporations—it’s transforming how we sell, present, and communicate. The best sales teams are already using AI to:
✅ Generate compelling, tailored proposals in minutes (not hours).
✅ Turn data into engaging, visual stories that capture attention.
✅ Automate tedious tasks so they can focus on closing deals instead.

This isn’t the future—it’s happening right now.

Get your copy of my ebook here!

ACTION STEPS & COMMUNITY QUESTION

🎯 This week’s challenge:

This week, focus on showing up with all three elements of the Credibility Triangle in one conversation:

• One moment of insight

• One moment of connection

• One clear and confident message

Which corner of the triangle do you want to strengthen most right now?

P.S.
Next week’s edition is all about Mindset & Motivation—and a simple mindset shift that turns resistance into momentum. You won’t want to miss it.

Keep building your edge—one conversation at a time.

YOUR OPINION MATTERS!

If you have more feedback or just want to get in touch, respond to this email, and we’ll get back to you!

Thanks for reading!

Until next week!

Mary Beth