Street Cred

There is a distinct difference between having it and not having it. Your customer knows, just ask them. The tribe you lead knows. People you work with, engage on a daily basis know.  They can hear it, see it, even smell it a mile away. It may be the single most impactful component of your show up. Street cred makes you. Street cred breaks you.

How do you know if you have street cred?  Honestly if you have to ask, that may be an issue all on its own, but it’s worth naming. Street cred is the knowhow, the skills, or product knowledge about the services you provide. Street cred is the experience you reference in the place you teach. Passion, belief, understanding = street cred. It’s a been there capability.

So do you have street cred?

People underestimate the power of street cred. If you have been in the role, sold what your audience is selling, have a shared understanding of the direction of where your TEAM is heading you can help to navigate them safely. A trust that what you are saying or doing actually works is the power of street cred. Street cred is knowing your audience so well you don’t have to guess at the results they will deliver.     

How do you get street cred? You don’t. You earn street cred.

Earning street cred is not easy. It’s all about frequency and involvement. The frequency of what and how to communicate, plus the consistency of your involvement. It’s practicing constantly, on the same playing field as the audience you are trying to reach.  It’s communicating often, tirelessly driving your TEAM forward. Street cred is being visible, available, and willing to learn. It’s about being real, authentic, and honest in your conversations. It’s being the first to say great job and when needed being the first to ask how we can do better. It’s not letting a coachable moment pass you by. Street cred is putting yourself in the most vulnerable spots to get honest feedback from the TEAM you support. It’s immersing yourself in what they do, asking questions to understand, and engaging constantly. It’s relentlessly seeking out what YOU could do or how YOU could have done it better. It’s the willingness to be coached when needed.  

So how’s your street cred?

Does your street cred make you or break you?