Table 2.

Leader credibility definitions

Article	Definition
Farling et al. (1999) Journal of Leadership Studies	"…the quality that enables one to be believed and also involves the trustworthiness and reliability of information of communication received from a person (references Bass, 1990; Clampitt, 1991; Kouzes & Posner, 1993; and the Webster Dictionary)." (p. 57)
Bolkan and Goodboy (2009) Journal of Instructional Psychology	"Credibility was examined in this study as it refers to three components…competence (e.g., intelligent, informed), goodwill (e.g., cares about students, understanding), and trustworthiness (e.g., honest, moral, ethical) (references McCroskey & Teven, 1999)." (p.299)
Men (2012) Public Relations Review	"The concept of CEO credibility includes CEO expertise and trustworthiness (references O'Keefe, 2002)." p. 171
Sweeney et al. (2009) Journal of Applied Social Psychology	"The combination of ability and dependable character (i.e., honesty, integrity, good values) is essentially what the persuasion and leadership literature define as credibility (references Hass, 1981; Kouzes & Posner, 1992; Posner & Kouzes, 1988)." (p. 250)
Balwant (2016) Journal of Leadership Studies	"A credible leader is one who followers perceive as convincing, dependable, competent, trustworthy, and believable." (p. 24)
Posner and Kouzes (1988). Psychological Reports	"… credibility is the cornerstone of leadership…[built upon] the foundation of others' beliefs in their honesty (trust), competence (expertise), and inspiration (dynamism) (references Posner & Kouzes, 1988)." (pp. 529–530)
Holmes and Parker (2017) International Journal of Business Communication	"…credibility deals with source credibility and focuses on a leader's competence (expertness), their trustworthiness (character), and their goodwill (caring), as the dimensions of source credibility (references McCroskey & Teven, 1999; Myers & Martin, 2015)." p. 73
Carrillo (2002) Professional Safety	"…leaders who have the personal habits, values, traits, and competencies to engender trust and commitment from those who take their direction." (p. 42)
Gabris et al. (1999) Public Administration Quarterly	"…leadership credibility means that leaders are perceived as believable, as men and women of their word, as people who can be trusted and followed…" (p. 234)
Salicru and Chelliah (2014) Journal of Business Strategy	"…the follower's perception of the extent to which the leader has fulfilled the obligations, levels of trust and fairness." (p. 41)
Rego and e Cunha (2012) Journal of Happiness Studies	"Trust and credibility of the leaders represents the degree to which leaders are trustful, fulfill their promises, and are honest." (p. 702)
Tremaine (2016) Defense Acquisition University West Region San Diego United States	"A credible leader possesses character (ethical, honest, loyal, respects others) and is recognized as competent (accountable and gets results)." (p. 137)