They may be right in a way, but the question is not just about saying no or a yes, the work we do and the commitment we honour goes a much longer way than just the word. And for these words to have any meaning, for these promises to make some sense, we better do something about them and make sure that they are delivered, or else they just become empty words in thin air waiting to vanish in a poof!
Don’t Promise More Than You Can Deliver
A promise is a word, an assurance that means we are going to make something happen. A person’s word speaks a lot about them. It talks about the depth of his personality, sincerity and respect to other people. This is also about honesty, integrity and trust we can have on someone.
This is one piece of advice I have constantly received. I’m an optimist which usually makes me overstimate myself. But I hadn’t realised how it impacts other people when I don’t reach these goals. Coming to think of it – setting expectations right and fair helps them manage their work. If I can do more, I should always strive for that – this is purely a question of work ethics. The most important thing however is to keep the promise.
“Don’t Promise More Than You Can Deliver But Always Deliver More Than You Promise
– Lou Holtz”
Why should you not promise more than you can deliver
It sends a wrong message. This helps people believe you as something else, but when you can’t achieve it – this makes you a liar. It is worse to be labelled as a liar than an optimistic person. The main thing to do is build trust. To do this, make sure that you commit to the things that you can deliver. You can do more and go beyond the expectations – this helps deepen the relationship. But don’t start with a promise of more than you can deliver.
A witty saying proves nothing – Voltaire
Don’t Speak Unless You Can Improve Silence
Deliver more than you promise
Doing something extra or something more tells how much this thing means to us. It conveys a message as to how much the person or their word or their work means to us. Doing that extra bit tells people how committed we are.
Saying that promise less than you do doesn’t really mean that we are promoting fake modesty. We would be the last to do that. But what we are saying is that no one is really going to complain if you do that extra work. But the moment you fall short, people are still going to hold you for your promise. Because, it was owing to this promise that they would have made further commitments. If this doesn’t happen, the way they lose face sometimes will not offer a chance for redemption at all.
In other words, if there is a decision or an outcome dependent on ours, it becomes our necessity and responsibility to make sure that we promise what we are really sure of and make certain that we deliver it beyond doubt. And if we think we can add something more to it, we can always say that we could try it out and add if that works. Most people seem to be in a hurry to please the boss and more often than not, any request comes with a yes without a further thought on the consequences. They appear to think that saying NO is a horrible thing and people will not appreciate it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Holtz
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1758298/
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Oye what will politicians do then :P
That extra effort always makes other people to trust you. Everybody loves that ‘extra’ :-P …
Jokes apart, it’s easier said than done… :-)
If only people did this all the time… the world would be a much better place :-)
I think today the thought is under commit and over deliver. This is also leading to poor outcome and sometimes a person who put that little extra wins. I think one should commit to their potential and deliver and continuously bench mark and raise the bar
What’s ill politicians do? You are spelling death knell to their activity.
I totally agree with your synopsis on doing that a lil bit extra effort on fulfilling the promises we make…I think its better to avoid promising and instead do what you can do with all the commitment. This way atleast we know e aren’t failing to fulfill something we agreed upon.. :)
So, rightfully explained. That’s how it should be Vinay! We shouldn’t promise more than our abilities to avoid unwanted expectations that lead to despair. Instead, we can certainly take a lead in trying out best to deliver more than enough for those surprisingly smiling faces. :)
Now that’s something I firmly believe improves your credibility, though mostly we find it the other way round. Ít’s frustrating when people over promise and under deliver.