Are You Not Doing What You Said You Would?

In a meeting last week the speaker was unable to attend so we each went around and gave our best business tip.  It was interesting that over half of the tips shared were about doing what you say you are going to do.  That seems like such an obvious thing – why was everyone talking about it?

Clearly we have a problem. I think it is because people look at that two ways – on the one hand there are people who say they will do something but have no intention of actually doing it.  Those are the people we don’t work with after that first time because you know that’s what’s going on. The other way this happens is people intend to do exactly what theysay  – they will meet that deadline, they will attend the meeting, etc. But, things happen that get in the way and they don’t. Because they INTENDED to do it, they don’t see it as not meeting their commitments. They see it as doing the best they can. Meanwhile the people they work with see it as missing the deadline or the meeting or whatever.

Recently a client of mine wanted to talk about better time management. When we got into why we were having the discussion, it turned out he was missing deadlines on a regular basis. What’s worse? HE set the deadlines! We did review his process and make some suggestions, but we also changed how he determines when things will get done. Our new ruule is he chooses the date, and then adds two days. While he wasn’t thrilled with this at first beause it was basically telling his clients things will take longer than they had in the pastt, he is now hitting his deadlines or even beating them.  Everyone is much happier and he now sees the value of handling that correctly.

 

So take a look at your own practices. Can you be accused of not doing what you said you would do? CLearly that’s a big deal so be sure you help yourself not be that person!