Competence Signals

Once warmth is in place, people want proof you can deliver. The strongest competence signals are specific and quiet: a relevant past result, a precise detail, or deep knowledge revealed through the sharpness of your questions.

Avoid broadcasting your skills through titles or self-promotion — that backfires and reads as insecurity. Let competence show through your insights and the precision of your examples. People trust expertise they can see far more than expertise you claim.