Are you relevant? Do you consider yourself capable? Are you constantly striving to grow and stay involved in continuous education? If so, odds are you’d be credible for any new task that presents itself in your field. If not, you may need to reassess. According to Stephen M. R. Covey in The Speed of Trust, “The first dimension of competence is capabilities—the talents, skills, knowledge, capabilities, and abilities we have that enable us to perform with excellence.” 

Capable people are credible. It’s that simple. For example, when you apply for a job the first thing the employer wants to see is your resume—to see if you possess the qualifications or capabilities of performing the tasks necessary for the position. Employers want to see that you have the ability to be disciplined, committed, and task-oriented. Another example of this is seen in the amount of trust we place in children based on their accomplishments. 

When a...