Falling short of expectations can cost more than money
What’s the cost of a commitment?
Recently, I’ve taken on a little more than is advisable in the volunteer realm. It’s easy to get sucked into new opportunities. You have a conversation with someone. They’re excited, then you get excited. Next thing you know, you’re squeaking out just one more thing to help them out, and of course, help yourself.
But every new commitment takes time, and it all takes time from something else. What are you giving up to take on that next commitment? Are you dropping something else entirely? Or just doing a slightly less effective job across the board as you start taking shortcuts?
The problem is that by short changing your existing commitments, you can permanently, irretrievably impact your brand.
None of us is perfect. But repeatedly falling short on your promises does more damage to you than if you hadn’t accepted the commitment in the first place. As people around you see you turning in low-quality work, or not turning in work at all, they begin to wonder if that’s the case in other areas of your business. They begin to lose faith in you. And you’ll begin to lose out on referrals and recommendations.
It’s always better to deliver a knock-out experience for one person, than a mediocre experience for ten people. That one fantastic experience will deliver more for you in terms of word of mouth and goodwill. It will cement your name and your reputation in someone’s mind. It will create a fan base.
What parts of your work are you knocking out of the park? Where might you be falling short?
photo credit: Andres Rueda
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Over extending one’s self often leads to “Over promised, Under delivered” which is never a good thing. People can be just as guilty of this as big companies. Everyone wants to be helpful in someway. The key is to know your limitations, and set boundaries. Setting time limitations can be a wise choice too. (available for month vs. open ended commitments, etc.)
Scott: Great thoughts! Drawing appropriate boundaries is good for us, and good for our clients/employers/anyone else that relies on us. It can be tough to learn where the lines are, but when you do, it can really be a change for the better.