Why Doing What You Say You'll Do Matters

As professionals, we understand the importance of building relationships with our colleagues, clients, and stakeholders. However, it's not always easy to establish trust with others, particularly in today's fast-paced and ever-changing business environment. One key factor that can make or break a relationship is reliability: the ability to follow through on our commitments and do what we say we'll do.

In her speech titled “The Anatomy of Trust”, renowned researcher and author Brené Brown emphasizes the importance of reliability in building trust. She writes, “You do what you say you’re going to do. We have to be very clear on our limitations so we don’t take on so much that we come up short, and don’t deliver on our commitments.”

Reliability is essential for building trust, and trust is crucial for effective collaboration and achieving shared goals. When we consistently deliver on our promises, we demonstrate our commitment to our work and our colleagues. This builds a foundation of trust and reliability that can help us establish long-term relationships based on mutual respect and support.

Reliable people are dependable and safe to be around. They are easy to build trust with because you know you can count on them.

Unreliable people are harder to build a relationship with because you are never sure if you can trust them. They don’t keep their commitments, they are not dependable, and they don’t follow through on what they say they will do.

Being reliable takes discipline; it’s hard work.?

So how can we be more reliable and build trust in the workplace? We have a few tips based on Dr. Brené Brown’s elements of BRAVING Trust.

1.) Do what you say you’ll do.

As humans, we're wired to seek out reliable partners and collaborators, and for good reason. When we can trust our colleagues to deliver on their promises, we feel more confident taking risks and sharing information. This is especially true in team environments, where trust and reliability are crucial for achieving shared goals and driving growth.

On the other hand, when someone repeatedly drops the ball and fails to follow through on commitments, it can damage relationships and hinder team success. This is why it's so important to prioritize reliability and do our best to follow through on our promises, even if we can't do so every single time.

Of course, there will be times when circumstances beyond our control prevent us from following through on our commitments. In these situations, it's important to communicate openly and honestly with our colleagues and stakeholders, and to do our best to make it right.

2.) Be aware of your competencies and limitations.?

As professionals, we often pride ourselves on our ability to take on new challenges and tackle difficult tasks. But if we're not honest with ourselves and others about our competencies and limitations, we can quickly find ourselves in over our heads.

That's why it's so important to be aware of what we can and can't handle, and to communicate this honestly with our colleagues and stakeholders. When we commit to something, we need to be sure that it's something we can realistically accomplish, and that we're not overcommitting ourselves.

This takes self-awareness - the ability to step outside ourselves and see ourselves as others do. Self-awareness means understanding our strengths and weaknesses, and being honest about what we're good at and what we're not.

When we're self-aware, we're better able to take risks and make informed decisions about what we can and can't handle. We know when it's time to ask for help, and when it's appropriate to turn down work because we don't have the time or skills to do it well.

Of course, self-awareness doesn't mean lacking confidence in ourselves. Rather, it means understanding our limits and what is realistic for us at this moment in time. By taking the time to assess our capacity and the time and energy required for different tasks, we can make informed decisions about what we can commit to.

By being upfront and honest about our competencies and limitations, we can build strong relationships based on trust and mutual respect. So let's embrace the power of self-awareness and work together to achieve our shared goals and drive success for ourselves and our teams.

3.) Know your values and balance priorities.

In today's busy world, it can be easy to lose sight of our values and priorities. We often communicate them through our actions rather than our words. So, how can we ensure that we're staying true to our values and priorities? Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

• Where is your time being spent?
• What are you saying "yes" to?
• Are you saying "no thank you" to activities that aren't aligned with your goals?
• What can you do to stay true to your values and take care of your well-being?

If you're managing a team or running a business, it's especially important to stay true to your values. For example, if your value is to prioritize your employees, you should make time for them rather than saying yes to everything that comes your way.

Learning to say no can be difficult, but it's important to prioritize your time and energy. Ask yourself what your top priority is during the time being requested. If it's not aligned with your values or goals, it may be time to say no thank you.

Knowing your values and priorities makes it easier to prioritize your schedule and focus your energy on the right things. Don't let your calendar fill up with activities that aren't bringing you closer to your goals. Say no thank you to the things that aren't aligned with your values and priorities.

Strengthen your team

When it comes to building trust in your organization, it's important to only commit to what you can follow through on. Saying no thank you to tasks that don't align with your values or goals can help you develop a reputation for reliability.

Reliability is a key component of building trust within a team. It requires knowing your values and priorities, communicating them effectively, and following through on your commitments, even if they're challenging.

By demonstrating reliability, you establish yourself as a trustworthy individual that others want to work with. Building a culture of trust and reliability requires everyone to be courageous and disciplined, but it's the only way to create a productive and effective workplace.

Are you struggling to build trust in your organization? Contact us today!