Keeping Commitments Builds Trust and Leads to Success
To have a successful business, we need to build trust in our relationships. We can start building trust by making and keeping commitments.
We talk about trust a lot in business. Being the supplier, vendor, or employee that everyone can count on opens the way to new opportunities. The habit behind trustworthiness is making and keeping commitments. It takes deliberate planning and practice to form this habit. Here are some steps to help you get started.
1. Don’t overwhelm yourself.
Start with commitments like reading one chapter of the scriptures, going for a one-mile walk, or praying before you leave the house each morning. Creating a simple routine in the morning can put you on the right path and set the tone for the rest of the day.
2. After you decide on your commitments, write them down.
Put them where you will see them multiple times a day, like next to your alarm clock or on your bathroom mirror.
3. Share your commitments with God in prayer.
When we pray about our commitments, we exercise faith, and we acknowledge that we need help to accomplish our goals. Being accountable to God can also help us avoid rationalizing or making excuses. Report your progress to Him in prayer at the end of each day.
4. Share your commitments with your spouse, a parent, or a close friend who will support you.
See if they would be willing to share their commitments with you as well. Check in with each other at lunchtime or at night to report your progress. Don’t be hard on yourself if you miss a day; simply start again the next day. Being accountable to someone who cares about you is good motivation to keep going.
5. After one week, evaluate how you’ve done, and make any changes necessary to more fully keep your commitments.
Keep going for a few more weeks, and the behaviors will become habits. After one month you can look back and see how well you did. You’ll recognize that the commitments you have kept have blessed your life.
After experiencing success with your initial commitments, you can add another commitment, like always being on time to meetings. Being prompt shows that you respect others, and respect goes a long way in creating trusting, productive relationships. Create a routine. Check your calendar when you arrive at work. Schedule time to prepare for meetings. Write your commitment to be prompt on your daily calendar. Share your commitment with God in prayer and with a trusted coworker. Evaluate your progress, and keep going until you form a habit.
As you continue to work on making and keeping commitments, you will create habits that make you worthy of the trust of the people around you. This trust will be an invaluable asset as you strive for success—both in your personal life and in your work life.