"The person who is slowest in making a promise
is most faithful in its performance."
– Jean Jacques Rousseau
Several years ago I entered into a consulting agreement with a client. A few months into the engagement, my key contact in the company said,
"Del, we are very happy that we selected you to help us. But do you want to know one of the primary reasons we chose you? Because you were the only one of the three consultants who submitted their proposal when you said you would."
I will never, ever forget that. Before that incident, I confess I took my commitments too casually.
Over the years, my relationship with this client has resulted in several hundred thousand dollars of business. And our relationship is healthy and ongoing still today.
Since that time I have become very aware and careful of my commitments. Even small ones.
How about you?
- Do you consistently do what you say you will?
- Do you get back to people?
- Do you meet, or better yet, beat deadlines?
Here are 3 reasons to consistently keep your commitments:
1. It Builds Your Credibility
When you commit to something, you build hope with others. When you follow through, you earn trust.
2. It Helps You Succeed In the Marketplace
You can be the friendliest person in the world with a high-quality service or product. If you are unreliable, this will prove to be a major shortcoming. If you build a reputation of dependability, it will be a competitive advantage.
3. It's the Considerate Thing To Do
Very often, not following through on your commitment means work stalls or bottlenecks. Other people are depending on you so they can move forward with some project or action. Candidly, not getting back to others is inconsiderate.
I don't share this with you to convey I'm Mr. Wonderful (that would be Kevin in Shark Tank). I still occasionally have something fall through the cracks. I share it with you because I have seen several careers stalled because of a lack of follow-through. I want you to thrive.
Little things often turn into big things.
"You have to be before you can do.
You have to do before you can have."
- Zig Ziglar