Honoring Your Commitments
I’ve been frustrated recently with the large number of “call outs” that we have been experiencing in our industry. I realize there is heightened awareness around being sick, but this is beyond not feeling well. When someone says they are not going to make their shift two hours before it starts because they got invited to a concert or “need to help their friend move”, it speaks volumes to me about their character and desire to honor their commitment. This is a problem that I talk about with people from across the country that are dealing with the same thing.
I’m not ready to categorize a generation as responsible for this behavior, but I do think it’s becoming more acceptable in our current environment. It has become increasingly difficult for businesses to navigate this as they struggle to find and hire enough people to execute
the demand coming in.
My wife, April, is on the nominating committee for a prestigious board here in Colorado. During a discussion about potential candidates, a name was brought up by one of the committee members, someone else chimed in that they had previously served on a board with that person and commented that they rarely showed up to meetings. This led to the candidate being excluded from consideration. We all have to make decisions about where to spend our time, and when we commit to something we have to be aware of who is watching that commitment. While we can justify why we have to miss a meeting or can’t meet a deadline, we have to be aware that it may come back to bite us down the road when we get blacklisted for future opportunities
that may be truly appealing.
Many people feel guilty about telling someone “no” when they are asked to participate in something or are invited to an event. They say “yes” or “maybe” to appease the request but they have no intention of actually attending. An honest “no” in these situations is more kind than a “yes” with no intention of showing up that may leave a stain on your reputation. I read a saying the other day that really resonated with me. It said; “Commitment means staying loyal to what you said you were going to do, long after the mood you said it in has left you.”
Honoring your commitments is one of the best ways to build trust. People value what you do far more than what you say. Leaders who follow through on what they say, build equity with their community - their teams, bosses, employees, neighbors, customers, friends and family members. It indicates that others can count on you to show up and deliver on promises made. It’s a great time to take inventory of the commitments in your life. Are you following through or falling short? I encourage you to only commit to something you’re willing to follow through on. To always honor your commitments - not just
when it’s convenient.
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