Are You A Promise-Keeper?

Using the following scale, rate each expectation of credible leaders in two ways:

How well do you think you are doing at meeting the expectation?

What might others think about how well you are meeting the expectation?

SCALE: 1 = significant improvement needed; 2 = slight improvement needed; 3 = skilled/competent; 4 = talented; 5 = outstanding: a role model

Expectation	How Do You Think You Are Doing?	What Might Others Think?
Displays willingness to say "no" to maintain business focus.	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5
Makes realistic commitments (avoids over committing).	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5
Always does what he or she says he or she will do.	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5
Does not make unrealistic commitments for other individuals or his or her team.	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5
Only cancels/reschedules appointments when critical.	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5
Honors confidential information.	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5
Avoids promises that are mere intentions (differentiates when he or she will “try” versus when he or she will “do”).	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5
Is reliable and dependable.	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5
My Scores:

Scoring yourself: Add your total for each column. A single column score of 36 to 40 suggests that you are doing an exceptional job and are meeting others’ expectations of someone who is a promise-keeper. A column score of 30 to 35 indicates that you have some areas for improvement; on issues as important as these, I believe leaders should strive to be “outstanding: a role model.” Below 30 indicates a danger area, and you may be chipping away at your credibility. Adiscrepancy of more than 9 points between the two column totals indicates a possible gap in perception worth investigating. If your “How do you think you are doing?” score is higher than your “What might others think?” score, your intentions may be better than your actions. If your “What might others think?” score is higher, you may not be giving yourself enough credit for a job well done.

People who do what they say that they will do are rarities. These are people who are building reputations of credibility and trusting, effective relationships with their peers and followers, who will in turn go the extra mile for their leaders.