Commitments Matter
TLDR
Teachable Moment: Set standards for your team and make sure everyone can be trusted to deliver on expectations.
The Problem
Trust is a two-way street.
Just as you build trust with your employee through your commitment to them, they must also be held responsible for developing trust with you in their roles.
And at its most basic, that means being able to follow through on commitments and delivering on the expectations set in their job description.
It doesn’t matter how great of an employee you think they are - if they don’t follow through on commitments and deliver results, then you will never be able to trust them to handle critical work that impacts the organization and the team.
It starts with missed deadlines and projects but ends with team morale taking a hit.
You can’t afford to let someone you can’t trust take down your whole team just because they aren’t responsible in their role.
The Solution
The easy solution is to part ways and hope they do better in their next role. However, you want to be able to safeguard your team from this type of behavior as early as possible.
Consider the following for every employee you manage:
- Clearly communicate expectations. You should provide detailed instructions and deadlines for tasks and projects and ensure your employees understand what is expected of them. Additionally, ensure that your employees have all the necessary resources, such as equipment, software, or training, to complete the task.
- Hold regular check-ins. Regular check-ins with your employees are an effective way to monitor progress and address any issues preventing them from following through on their commitments. During these check-ins, ask questions about their progress, provide feedback, and offer support when needed.
- Provide feedback and support. Giving your employees feedback on their performance and offering support when needed is crucial for ensuring that they follow through on their commitments. Provide positive reinforcement for tasks completed on time, and offer constructive feedback for tasks not completed as expected. Encourage your employees to ask questions and seek help when they need it.
- Hold employees accountable. Communicate the importance of following through and the consequences of not doing so, and hold employees responsible for meeting deadlines and completing tasks.
You’ll always have an employee who fails to meet their commitments - but you can still develop the skills and habits necessary to build a successful and trustworthy team.
Tackle these early on, and don’t waiver on the minimum standards you set.
