Keeping the Peace

“Say what you will do and do what you say.”- original source unknown

Almost everyone knows at least one person who can’t be counted on. They are that person who tells you they will do something but never does it. You know, they promise to organize a team building function and it never happens. They promise to attend the team building function you organize and they never show up.

Pretty soon you can place bets on their ability to keep their word. You know if you have a business lunch with them there is about a 50% chance they will cancel. In fact you know that it will take them three attempts before they make it at all.

What if you do not know someone like the person described above? Well then, it’s not you is it? If you showed the above paragraphs to your colleagues, would they think it described you? Let’s hope not.

But if it is you, how do you think that is impacting your reputation? If you say you are going to do something, do it. You might say to yourself, “What is the big deal, it was just a lunch.” Or “There were 25 other people at the event, who even knows if I was there?”

People do notice and this is what they remember, “He said he would be there, he wasn’t. In fact most times he says he will show up someplace he doesn’t.” You may think it is just lunch or just a team event, but you are setting a precedent. If you consistently break your word, why should your colleagues think your word carries any value at all?

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