7 Leadership Steps That You Need to Know on Keeping Your Promises
By Lee Ellis
I had already broken three promises, and the day wasn���t over yet! I was participating in an event specifically on the topic of self-governance and reliable follow-through, and in the heat of the moment I made some commitments that I couldn���t keep. While they were small things that others may not have remembered, they still had the potential to undermine my credibility and dependability with this group. I realized that I needed to be more self-aware of what I was saying to others. I like to help people, look good, and to be liked so it���s easy for me to say that I���ll do something.
To this day, it was a learning opportunity that I haven���t forgotten.
Simple But Not Easy
When the Honor Code was created, Article 3 was a foundational requirement to lead with honor ���
���Keep your word and your commitments. Ask for relief sooner than necessary.���
It���s easy to assume that we keep our word, but in reality it���s not that easy to keep promises consistently���especially to remember and keep the ones that aren���t as personally important to us. We have good intentions and a desire to help and fulfill our word with a particular person, but the truth is that we hastily agree to do things that get forgotten and drop off the radar. Even worse, we just decide it was a bad commitment that we should���ve never agreed to do, and now we want to ignore it instead respectfully declining or asking for relief.
On a national scale, have you noticed the cynicism toward politics and the media? Gallup���s research indicates that the majority of the population has ���very little��� or only ���some��� confidence in the institutions of congress, television news, and internet news. There appears to be widespread skepticism, even contempt for institutions that consistently fail to keep their promises and their value statements to the public. This mentality is collectively and individually dangerous if it becomes an accepted practice to break promises.
Why Is It Important?
Others are counting on you to keep your word. They���re planning their work, their schedule, their expectations, their hopes, even their lives based on what you���ve promised. Their trust for you is founded on your reliability to follow through.
Trust is the hinge point of leadership���when it goes up, your credibility goes up; when it goes down, your influence drops like a rock. [Tweet This]
There will be consequences if you fail. When you don���t deliver, it can be a minor problem or even disastrous. What happens when a child is told that you will pick them up after practice and you don���t show? What about when you tell your teammates you will have your next milestone done by a certain date and then don���t come through?
In the military and other time-sensitive occupations, keeping your commitments can be life or death. Entire operations are coordinated around timely execution of the tactical plan. In day to day life, seemingly small, unfulfilled promises become critical over time to your credibility and your honor.
Ultimately, it undermines the trust of others and trust is the foundation for leadership, influence, execution, and healthy relationships. Let���s assume we all have some room to grow on this one.
7 Steps to Keeping Your Promises [Tweet This Article]
How can your guard against broken promises and commitments? Learn and apply this list of helpful, proven steps ���
1. Be Intentional. If keeping your word is important to you, recommit to it as one of your key values. Test yourself and track how well you currently keep your promises.
2. Become More Self-Aware. Monitor your words and be fully aware of what you are promising.
3. Don���t Make Promises You Can���t Keep. Resist committing unless you���re sure you want to do it and can do it. Learn to say no, or say ���I���ll have to check with my team to see if we can do that.���
4. Write Commitments Down Immediately. Assign them a completion date on your to do list or calendar.
5. Be Courageous. Use the Courage Challenge engagement card to engage rather than withdraw.
6. Ask Your Support Team to Help You be Accountable. Get over your independence and pride. Ask for help.
7. Fail Fast. If you can���t keep commitments, ask for relief immediately versus ignoring it.
From a practical perspective, keeping your word makes you look stronger and more authentic and that leads to greater trust, better outcomes/results, and a more successful life in every area. From a values perspective, your honor is at stake. Keep your commitment to live and lead with honor. Please also share your wisdom and experience in this forum.
LE
P.S. Want to see my monthly leading with Honor video coaching on this topic? It���s free���simply sign up to receive it in your inbox.
P.P.S. Download a complimentary of the The Honor Code based on the leadership lessons learned in Leading with Honor, and please share.
Related Articles:
– Honor Code Article 1 ��� Four Lies that All Leaders Are Tempted to Use, and How to Tell the Truth
– Honor Code Article 2 ��� Treating Others with Dignity and Respect Even When It���s Difficult: Four Leadership Traps to Avoid
http://www.gallup.com/poll/1597/confidence-institutions.aspx
