When you commit to something, do you see it through and take ownership of your responsibilities?
I am regularly flabbergasted by the number of professional people I interact with who think it is okay to miss or be late to meetings and/or underperform on commitments as it suits them. This is especially true when it comes to peer groups, philanthropic, or voluntary responsibilities. I do my best to give people the benefit of the doubt and understand that they can be stretched too thin, but after a while, why should this be anyone’s problem but their own? Whatever happened to personal responsibility? We are all busy. We are all striving to find a work-life balance. Life is about making choices and establishing priorities.
Once you commit to something, you should fulfill your responsibilities. This doesn’t mean that emergencies and/or scheduling mishaps won’t happen, but they should be the exception, not the rule. Being disciplined is hard, but it’s a requirement if you ever want to get anything significant accomplished in work or life. It is also rude to always place the burden on others who are more dependable and responsible than you. Your actions are representative of your personal brand – good, bad, or otherwise.
Your intentions may be pure, but it is your actions that matter. Doing the minimum required should never be viewed as good enough. Excuses are the refrain of people who are too self-important for their own good. They are also quick to pass the blame on to others. Why is your time any more important than anyone else’s? Have you ever noticed that successful individuals tend to accomplish their goals and fulfill their commitments? People quickly learn that they can count on them and respond in an equivalent manner. There is an ease that forms in relationships where mutual accountability exists. When you have limited time, you want to invest in people who make your efforts worth it.
A regular refrain I hear from people is that there is too much to do and not enough time. However, if we take a moment to reflect, who is responsible when we find ourselves in this situation? You! If you are overcommitted, then scale back. If you are struggling to establish priorities, seek guidance or help. Be more realistic about deadlines and allow yourself some more flexibility at the back end. Calendar meeting dates and deadlines, and adhere to them in all but rare cases. Learn to say “no” so that when you say “yes,” it actually means something. If someone has offered you the courtesy of their professional time, then be respectful of that gift. However, don’t overload yourself with things that genuinely don’t interest you or you don’t have time for out of some misguided notion of respect. Honesty is always the better policy.
It’s not okay to leave other people hanging. It’s not okay to regularly miss meetings or deadlines. It’s not okay to talk a good game but then fall flat on execution. It’s not okay to overcommit and underdeliver. Relying on the kindness of others to compensate for your shortcomings is not a viable professional solution. When you commit to something, fully commit! It is that simple.