Credibility Framework
Making strategic moves credible
The Credibility Framework provides a set of principles and tactics for making strategic moves credible, including changing the payoffs of the game, limiting the ability to back out of a commitment, and using others to help maintain commitment.
- Change the payoffs of the game to make it in your interest to follow through on your commitment.
- Limit your ability to back out of a commitment.
- Use others to help you maintain commitment.
- Write contractsAgree to pay a penalty if you fail to follow through on your commitment.Pro tipSpecify clear terms and conditions.WarningBe aware of the potential risks and consequences of failure.
- Establish a reputationBuild a reputation for following through on your commitments.Pro tipBe consistent and reliable.WarningA reputation can be damaged if you fail to follow through on your commitments.
- Cut off communicationLimit your ability to back out of a commitment by cutting off communication.Pro tipBe clear and direct.WarningBe aware of the potential risks and consequences of cutting off communication.
- Burn bridgesLimit your ability to back out of a commitment by burning bridges.Pro tipBe careful and deliberate.WarningBe aware of the potential risks and consequences of burning bridges.
God's threat to punish Adam and Eve for eating from the tree of knowledge was not credible because it was not in God's interest to follow through on the threat.
Harry Potter's promise to return the Sword of Gryffindor to the goblins was not credible because he had no intention of following through on the promise.
The concept of credibility in strategic moves originated from the idea that mere verbal promises are not enough to ensure that a party will follow through on their commitments.