A while back I hired a web developer for a project. He was a fine individual who had some great insights and skills. We developed a project plan for a web upgrade. But the project quickly got off track.
I discovered that he promised a lot but had trouble delivering.
What he said he would have completed in four business days didn't turn out to be the case. It wasn't that he couldn't do it. I later learned that he hadn't considered other things he also had to do. And he also let new things interfere with his plans.
I quickly became frustrated because he did not keep his word. When he talked to me, I now distrusted everything he said.
In business it is easy to speak what we intend to do. Then circumstances or other priorities move us down a different path. Or, it could even be that we never intended to literally keep our word. What we promised we would do, we don't do. The end result is that we lose credibility. Then business becomes more inefficient. And we may lose staff members as well as customers. I wonder how much business is lost because the buyer does not trust the word of the seller-and the seller doesn't realize why the business is being lost.
So, what can you do to be a person whose word is valued? The following is a little check list.
1. Consider whether you mean it--
Often I have said things to others, not really meaning them: "Yes, let's get together for lunch." Or "I'll call you later to talk more about this." However, I didn't follow up. I wasn't committed to my word. At times I used those expressions as a way of brushing people off or of getting out of a situation in which I felt uncomfortable. Our loosely-stated comments may not mean much to us, but to the hearer they may mean a great deal. I wonder how many people we have disappointed by not really meaning what we said.
2. Recognize priorities before making commitments--
Keep your vision, mission, and commitments in mind when making promises. Don't stray from your core purposes. If there's not a tie to what you have been called to do, don't go down other rabbit trails. If your heart isn't in the commitment, you will not do a good job, and your reputation will suffer.
3. Realize your actions ARE your word--
We're all familiar with the expression, "Your actions speak so loud I can't hear a word you're saying." Talk is cheap, and promises may be, too, if you don't walk out what you say. Ultimately, people judge you by your actions. If your actions don't line up with your word, your reputation will suffer, no matter what you promised in the annual business meeting or at the employee quarterly staff meeting.
4. Stand in accountability--
It's easy for a leader to talk a lot and listen a little. That is called being a dictator. As a Kingdom person, be accountable to someone you trust. It may be your vice president; it may be a friend who is objective and not involved in your subjective world; it may be someone who irritates you a little (perhaps because they speak things you don't like to hear). The Holy Spirit can warn you, but the Lord also uses members of the body of Christ to speak truth to each other.
5. Have a system: project software, planner, etc.--
Sometimes we have good intentions and mean to honor our word, but we're just too unorganized or busy to do a good job of it. Perhaps you simply need a tool to help you follow through on your commitments and promises. Microsoft Exchange, DayRunner, DayPlanner, and many other tools are available to help you maintain priorities and also to help you honor your word. Have a system and use it. Remember, others know when you haven't kept your word, even if they don't say anything to you.
6. Know the Living Word better--
Just imagine if Jesus, even one time, didn't keep his word. His whole life and sacrifice would have been wasted. We wouldn't be Christians. The good news is that he is the Living Word. Everything He says is true. He honored his word, even to the point of death and resurrection. The Apostle Paul said to the Galatians, "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Gal. 2:20 NKJV) Christ lives in us. The Holy Spirit helps us keep our word. When we start seeing it's not all about us, but about something much greater, we don't have to use obfuscations or outright mistruths to cover for our actions.
7. Hold yourself accountable-
Record your promises and commitments on a piece of paper for a week. Keep it on your desk. Check it a week or a month later to see how well you honored your word. Correct as necessary.