Dang, I promised more than I can deliver (Part 1)

Promises raise others’ expectations. And you have to work hard to live up to the expectation. It becomes a threshold that you have to cross to attain a good credibility and trust, if you care.

Promise less, deliver more. That should be the mantra of life. I promised a lot in my Ph.D. proposal but I think I will not be able to deliver the same given that I have only couple of more months left to graduate.

So why don’t we promise less and deliver more? After all, people remember what you deliver (especially, if it is more than they expect) rather than what you promised (unless you don’t fulfill them).

What is a promise?

“an express[ed] assurance on which expectation is to be based” – Dictionary.com.

- A mission statement of a company is a promise they have made to their customers, e.g., Walt Disney – “To make people happy.”
- A thesis proposal is a promise you make to your area of research and your committee members.
- A job announcement is a promise to the future employee about work opportunities.
- A banknote is a promise to pay the bearer that amount of money.
- A political agenda is a promise by a politician or a political company to the people.

Promises are the keys to start and maintain a relationship.

How much you care about a relationship is measured by how much you deliver to fulfill your promises. Promises need not be big. You have started a relationship, even when you make a small promise. To maintain that relationship, all you have to do is to keep your small promise.

But still we see people making big promises and not delivering. It jeopardizes the relationship. Credibility and trust is put on stake.

Why do we promise more than can be delivered?

1. Short term gains

- Promises are made to gain approval, to impress, or to please (to win election, to get a grant, to close a deal).

2. Wrong notion of available resources (or capabilities)

- Promises are made without estimating how much and when they can be delivered (product release, project/thesis proposals).

3. Can’t say no

- Promises are made because we don’t know how to say ‘no’ in a ‘non-hurting’ way.

If promises are not fulfilled, employees move to other companies, new employees are hired and old ones are fired, new collaborations are made breaking the old ones, new friends are found replacing the old ones, new relationship is sought replacing the old one.

Promises are responsibilities you take upon yourself setting an expectation bar. If we are not careful with them, they can lead to a lot of stress and disappointments. Remember,

For every promise, there is price to pay – Jim Rohn

Have you promised more than you could deliver? What price did you pay for it?