The Grasshopper joined me during my walk yesterday and delivered this obvious piece of wisdom: “When you overcommit, you under-deliver.”

When you keep adding to an already full plate, whatever you promise, if it ever comes, will be way late.

Think of any major building project you’ve heard about over the years. I think of Boston’s “Big Dig.” It was a major highway project begun over 20 years ago and I remember the politicians and the construction company citing budgets they would adhere to and dates it would be completed by. I also remember laughing aloud. It easily cost 10 times more than they said and completion was years behind schedule.

That’s under-delivering on the macro level, but what about commitments on the micro level – the ones we’re in charge of?

How often do you say “yes” when you know it should be “no”? You may think you are placating the person(s) being “yessed,” but the end result is disappointment. You gain the reputation of not being able to be taken at your word.

I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before but whenever you hear hyperbole from someone, run in the opposite direction because that person will inevitably disappoint. But you may not be a braggart but when you continually don’t come through, that’s when people discover they can’t count on you.

When “yes” is a lie, your nose may not grow but your reputation for disappointment will expand, and your under-delivering will get out of hand.

Which of these would you like to be known as?

1. He/She means well.

2. You can count on her or him.

When you do what you say you’re going to do, people will know they can count on you.

All the best,

John

Listen to the recorded version.