Leaders Must Deliver On Their Promises
Is it just me, or are you also sick and tired of campaigning
politicians continuously making promises that they have no intention of
keeping, or even worse, have no intention of even trying to keep? If so, how
can we explain why these individuals keep doing so, and voters keep casting
their votes largely based on the promises? It really becomes frustrating when
even after they are elected, they still fail to act on the promises made to
constituents, and often take actions contradictory to their promises. Is it any
wonder that so many have become disgusted with the political process, and that
there is so much apathy? Denis Waitley put it this way, "Promises should
not be lightly given unless we want them to be lightly received."
1. In my well over thirty years of professionally identifying,
qualifying, and consulting to thousands of leaders, as well as serving several
times as a leader both in the corporate and the not- for- profit environments,
I have come to firmly believe that unless someone commits to absolute
integrity, it is impossible to truly be a leader. Great leaders need the
support of, and the belief in by, their constituents, supporters and donors. If
rather than striving to keep one's promises, and showing demonstrable progress
towards delivering on promises, constituents and others become disillusioned
with the individual who fails to keep (or breaks) his promises. It is far
better to under- promise and over- deliver than it is to make empty promises.
Leaders should never simply make a promise, unless they also have studied the
issues, and have developed a realistic, well thought out and designed course of
action.
2. When was the last time you followed a leader who actually
kept his promises? One of the major causes for the great challenges faced by
many organizations today is that in these often challenging times, there is so
much competition for people's time, resources, energies and commitments.
Therefore, when constituents and potential followers begin to think of someone
in leadership as just another empty suit, and doubt both the person's integrity
and motivations, true leadership then becomes nearly impossible. Without
absolute integrity, no one can long remain a leader. We must ask why so many
who want to be in leadership spend so much time being a politician, even after
they are elected, and so little time being a statesman.
Rule number one for sincere leaders must be to stop making empty
promises, and spend more time serving as a leader by seeking viable solutions
and courses of action.
With over 30 years consultative sales, marketing, training,
managerial, and operations experience, Richard Brody has trained sales and
marketing people in numerous industries, given hundreds of seminars, appeared
as company spokesperson on over 200 radio and television programs. He's
negotiated, arranged and organized hundreds of events.
Richard's owned businesses, been a COO, CEO, and Director of
Development, as well as a consultant. His company Website is http://www.plan2lead.net, and he
can be followed on Twitter @rgbrody. For great information on many topics,
visit PLAN2LEAD's Facebook page and LIKE ( http://www.facebook.com/Plan2lead )
