Shalom Lamm on How to Establish Credibility at Work: Strategies That Make People Trust You

Shalom Lamm September 9, 2025

In today’s fast-paced, high-expectation work environment, technical skills may get your foot in the door—but it’s credibility that keeps you in the room. Whether you’re a new hire, a team leader, or climbing the ladder, building credibility is essential for lasting professional success.

Entrepreneur and business strategist Shalom Lamm knows this lesson well. With decades of experience launching companies, leading teams, and mentoring young professionals, Lamm emphasizes that credibility is not given—it’s earned through consistent, intentional action.

“Credibility is your workplace currency,” says Lamm. “You can’t buy it, and once you lose it, it’s incredibly hard to get back. But if you build it well, it becomes the foundation of trust, influence, and leadership.”

In this article, we explore the essential ways you can establish credibility at work and maintain a reputation that helps you thrive in any organization.

Why Credibility Matters in the Workplace

Before diving into how to build it, let’s be clear on why credibility is so crucial:

It makes people trust your judgment.
It allows you to take on more responsibility and leadership roles.
It helps you navigate office politics with integrity.
It creates a positive professional brand that follows you beyond your current role.

Credibility isn’t about being perfect. According to Shalom Lamm, it’s about being reliable, honest, competent, and professional—consistently.

1. Deliver on What You Promise

One of the fastest ways to build credibility? Follow through. Every time.

This sounds simple, but it’s surprisingly rare in many workplaces. When you say you’ll finish a project by Friday, finish it by Friday. When you agree to lead a meeting, come prepared. Every time you honor a commitment, you build a reputation as someone people can count on.

“People underestimate the power of reliability,” says Lamm. “But when you consistently do what you say you’ll do, you build credibility that no resume can compete with.”

Pro Tip:

Don’t overpromise to impress others—underpromise and overdeliver instead. This sets realistic expectations and often exceeds them.

2. Be Transparent When You Make Mistakes

Everyone makes mistakes—but how you handle them determines your credibility.

If you mess up a report, miss a deadline, or overlook an important detail, own up to it. Acknowledge the mistake, offer a solution, and move forward. Blame-shifting or covering up errors damages trust quickly.

Shalom Lamm believes that vulnerability can enhance credibility—as long as it’s paired with accountability.

“Credible professionals aren’t perfect. They’re honest. Taking responsibility shows character, and people remember that.”

3. Build Subject-Matter Expertise

You don’t need to know everything—but you should strive to be the go-to person for something. Whether it’s product knowledge, analytics, communications, or operations, developing deep expertise in a specific area positions you as indispensable.

Lamm encourages professionals to be curious and proactive about learning.

“If you want people to trust your input, they need to believe you’ve done the work. Learn more than is expected. Go deeper than the job description.”

Ways to grow your expertise:

Take online courses
Attend industry webinars
Subscribe to newsletters in your niche
Ask thoughtful questions from senior peers

4. Communicate Clearly and Respectfully

How you say things matters just as much as what you say. If you want to establish credibility, develop a communication style that is clear, professional, and constructive.

Avoid gossip, negative talk, or passive-aggressive behavior—these will erode your reputation fast. Instead:

Listen actively in meetings
Speak confidently without dominating
Use positive, solution-oriented language

“People respect those who communicate with clarity and class,” says Shalom Lamm. “Especially in tense situations, your tone and language can build—or break—credibility.”

5. Support Your Team—Not Just Yourself

Credibility isn’t just about being good at your job. It’s also about being someone who elevates others.

If you consistently help teammates, acknowledge their contributions, and step up when needed, you build relational capital. People remember those who have their back.

Lamm believes that being a team player with integrity is one of the most undervalued traits in modern business.

“True leaders aren’t self-promoters—they’re people who bring others along. That’s who people trust.”

6. Manage Your Time Like a Professional

How you handle your time reflects how you respect others’. Consistently being late, missing deadlines, or showing up unprepared signals that you’re not dependable.

Instead:

Arrive early to meetings
Block focused work time on your calendar
Set personal deadlines before actual ones

Credibility grows when people see you as organized, punctual, and respectful of their schedules.

7. Seek Feedback—and Act On It

Asking for feedback shows humility and a desire to improve—both of which strengthen your credibility. But the real impact comes when you actually apply the feedback.

Don’t just nod and smile. Reflect on what you hear, make adjustments, and let people see the progress.

“Growth is visible,” says Shalom Lamm. “When people see you taking initiative to improve, they believe in your potential.”

8. Stay Calm Under Pressure

Nothing tests your credibility like a high-stress situation. Whether it’s a missed deadline, a tough client call, or a product failure, how you respond matters more than the outcome.

Keep your composure, communicate clearly, and focus on solutions. These traits inspire confidence—and credibility.

Lamm notes,

“In crisis, people look for someone who’s calm, focused, and trustworthy. Be that person, and your influence will grow overnight.”

9. Maintain Professional Boundaries

Being approachable is important, but remember: you’re at work to perform. Oversharing personal issues, engaging in office drama, or getting too informal too quickly can make others question your judgment.

Keep it friendly—but professional.

“You don’t have to be cold to be credible,” says Lamm. “Just know where the line is—and don’t cross it.”

Final Thoughts: Credibility Is Your Professional Reputation

At every stage of your career, credibility is the foundation of your professional reputation. It influences how you’re perceived, how much responsibility you’re given, and how far you’ll go.

Building it takes time, effort, and intentionality—but the payoff is long-lasting trust and career growth.

As Shalom Lamm puts it:

“Your credibility is your career’s most valuable asset. Protect it, build it, and let it speak for you when you’re not in the room.”