Do people ever break their word to you?

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where someone’s words don’t quite match their actions?

It’s a common challenge many of us face, whether it’s within personal relationships or professional interactions. The frustration and disappointment that often accompany unfulfilled promises can be disheartening. However, rather than opting to “cut them out of your life” or be resentful or annoyed, there are ways to address these situations constructively and cultivate stronger relationships.

1. Recognizing the Common Pattern: I’ve come to understand that not everyone maintains their word consistently. In truth, most individuals struggle with this at varying levels. Just as a muscle needs regular exercise to become stronger, the principle applies to the “muscle” of integrity when it comes to keeping one’s word.

2. Acknowledging My Reaction: When faced with someone who doesn’t honor their commitments, it’s natural to feel a mixture of disappointment and annoyance. Yet, instead of allowing these feelings to guide my reaction, I’ve learned to step back and consider the larger context. I recognize that their inability to keep their word might stem from an underdeveloped habit or lack of muscle memory.

3. Embracing Compassion and Development: Rather than instantly severing ties with those who fail to honor their word, I’ve begun embracing a more unmessablewith approach. I liken it to an opportunity to help them strengthen their integrity “muscle.” Just as anyone learning a new game or sport may stumble before gaining balance, people often need support to reinforce their commitment to their words.

4. Engaging in Constructive Communication: When confronted with someone repeatedly breaking their commitments, I’ve found that open conversation is far more effective than avoidance. I approach the conversation by highlighting the importance of a solid foundation in our relationship. I inquire if there’s anything we need to put in place so that when we say we will do something with each other it happens the way we created it, whether it involves reminder emails or alarms.

5. Holding Myself to the Same Standard: In any relationship, the commitment to one’s word isn’t a one way street. I believe in maintaining the same standards I expect from others. By setting an example of honoring my own commitments, I encourage a ripple effect that motivates others to do the same.

6. Building Reliability in Professional Settings: In business or professional interactions, commitment to promises is paramount. When commitments falter, I prioritize building a reliable foundation. I engage in discussions with counterparts, focusing on strategies that support each other in meeting commitments consistently. This proactive stance fosters trust and strengthens partnerships. When I am working with someone I manage and they repeatedly break promises or deadlines, I intervene quickly to see what support they may need to have real power with their word vs ending up with explanations for why things didn’t happen.

7. Choosing Empowerment Over Frustration: I’ve learned that this isn’t about one person versus another. It’s about nurturing a foundation of integrity in relationships. When dealing with broken promises (mine or someone else’s), I make a conscious choice not to succumb to frustration. Instead, I opt to empower everyone by collaborating to elevate our strength with our word and ultimately increase performance for all. Ultimately, my goal is to cultivate stronger connections and empower people to have their word be unmessablewith. By approaching such situations with empathy and a commitment to have everyone have power with their word no matter what, I can enable people to develop an unmessablewith word.

Just like a muscle, consistent exercise and effort can reshape the way people honor their words, leading to saying x and doing x which leads to high performance, fulfillment, peace of mind and an overall GAME ON-ness that impacts the quality of everyday life.

​If you want to develop having your WORD be UNMESSABLEWITH take advantage of my free promise game to give you a glimpse into a life by design vs default!