The Value of a Believability Quotient

If we are being presented to, we intuitively and rapidly calculate a believability category of the seller or presenter. Our buy-in response has much to do with that opinion, rather than the product or service. That can be good or bad.

Coming to a conclusion too quickly, or not quickly enough, can have unintended consequences. The dilemma is whether to rely on an immediate gut feeling or a more objective factual process. Time permitting, how about both?

Normally, the due diligence phase covers most of the sins of this stage. But, how many times has that step stopped short? The subtleties of urgency, feelings, motives, internal and external pressures, timing, and many other intangibles are seldom considered.

Point is, why not set up your own believability matrix? This single page idea could keep you, your friends and/or clients and their decisioning in a safe harbor mode in a variety of issues. Below is one example of a tangible chart:

Studying this example shows that using quadrants is a symbolic method to peg a credibility/believability level. In this graph, a “D4” rating immediately comes to mean that the subject is both objective and believable. If you are a manager, teacher or even a parent, could the efficiency and visualization of a single symbolic icon help you describe what the ideal person or solution should be?

As you consider adopting this methodology, see that this is simply a structure. You can re-design any quadrant according to what they represent to you as believability issues from your POV.

Question: Is this effort better than a pure gut feeling?

You decide.

We welcome any of your individual designs or comments.