Hackman And Johnson's Leadership: A Communication Perspective

According to Hackman and Johnson “influence, which rests almost solely upon one’s credibility, is a fundamental and critical aspect of any individual’s leadership ability” (2013 p.166). This has led the duo to conclude that “credibility is the very foundation of leadership” (2013 p.167). In their work Leadership: A Communication Perspective, the two break credibility down into three separate dimensions, which when possessed together, impart a natural validity within an individual, and directly elevates one’s capacity to lead. Ironically, however, occasionally leaders will arise, who through their expert manipulation of power, are able to bypass deficiencies in any or all three dimensions of credibility, while still serving in a leadership role. Hillary Clinton, currently the favorite to become president of the United States in less than a week, serves to illustrate this discontinuity perfectly.
The first component of credibility outlined by Hackman and Johnson is “competence, which refers to one’s knowledge, expertise, and good judgment” (2013 p.167). While Clinton’s role as Secretary of State, and her previous service as First Lady, would at least superficially seem to make a solid case for her competence as a possible president of the United States, her actions while serving in both roles directly conflict with this idea. During her tenure as …show more content…

Clinton does demonstrate some of the characteristics of this critical dimension of credibility, possibly partly compensating for her blatant lack of trust and competence. Utilizing her long and successful background in politics, the Secretary has accumulated the experience and knowledge to project herself and her visions of the future as something which many Americans can both relate to and rally