Matt Abrahams

Your credibility, while it informs what you say, doesn't need to be the first thing you say.

I'm on a personal mission to stop presentations and meetings from starting with people just giving their credentials, telling the titles of what they're saying.

Get us hooked.

I tell people it's like an action movie.

How does every action movie you've ever seen start?

With action.

Do something that engages the audience.

I'm not saying crash a car and jump out of a plane, but make a provocative statement, ask a question, give some interesting statistics.

Show what you're saying means for the people.

And then you're able to engage them in a dialogue.

And that's where connection happens.

So credentialing is important, but it doesn't happen right away.

You demonstrate your credibility.

I teach my students that there are two types of credibility.

There's your career and college credibility, something you'd see in your LinkedIn profile, your resume.

And then what I call Costco credibility.

You know, when you go to Costco, they give you free samples.

You try it.

You like it.

Show people.