Increasing your Commitments

Say what your going to do

Making a commitment to fulfill a certain task

Realize that others bank on what you said would be done, even if you don't truly believe it when you said it. Our word and honor is at play here, and we certainly don't want to diminish the value of "giving our word" about something as important as completing a particular task, we said we would do. This is where beginning with the end in mind comes into play. Knowing what your capabilities are, or could be, and the time available to give this task a positive chance to be completed. It is where learning to say "No" to some tasks, will give you the ability and structure to say "Yes" to a task that maybe a better fit for you.

Do what you said

Carry out this task without excuses

Use all resources available to you. If needed then learn a new skill. Everything you have done up to this point in life comes natural, is a reaction, or a learned skill. Continue with that learning. If doubt creeps in, knock it back out. see: Chaos

Report what you did

Honoring your commitment to your yourself and others

Just think, 100% of the time you tell someone that you will do something, they have already formed a judgement of your commitment you said you would do.

Is this bad. Not necessarily. You probably do this too without even realizing it. Once you know it's happening, you can use it to your benefit. You can change "course of tide" in your favor. You can right some wrongs. You can prove that you will remember to do that task, even if it takes learning a new skill to complete it.

Learn and share best practices, because, if what you actually did, aligns with what your stated commitment is, then this sets the future stage, and the "tide" will flow in your favor.

Fulfill hidden commitments

While were on the subject of commitments, lets talk about the unspoken ones; the understood expectations; the spirit of the agreement.

At a place of employment, when someone gets hired, there are rules and regulations that the new employee signs off on.

Many are never openly discussed, but there are silent expectations that the employer naturally thinks you would be committed to.

Like coming to work with a good attitude, showing up on time, listening, learning, engaging and sharing your feedback. If some of these were openly discussed in an interview or hiring process, you would think it's weird. But they are expected commitments that the employer or team you would be working with, hope you live up to.

What happens when we don't honor these unspoken commitments?

Resentment can creep in, attitudes change, and now we have a disconnect between the two parties.

Before things spiral down, "turn the tide" again, back in your favor.

Make your best effort to observe, question, and discuss any possibilities of silent expectations. Find out if there are past employees that didn't fulfill an obligation or commitment that should have been a no-brainer.

Let this new employer, or just team transfer, know that you are open to discussions on new processes and systems that will bring you up to speed with their workflows.

There is a saying that goes: If you want a job done, give it to a busy person to do it.

The same is basically true with honoring commitments. The person that will most likely honor their commitments, will be the person that has a great track record of honoring them.