Promises (NOTE: when I say a promise, I mean a result they promise with a time limit of when they will do whatever they said or produce the result they promised. A promise without a

making a date of when they will deliver or fulfill on the promise is wishful thinking and cannot, nor should  be counted on by anyone.)

It is common for people to resist making a promise. Why? First, they do not want to be responsible for failing to keep that promise. Again, you could ask why. Generally, they fear some sort of retribution and have been trained (by past experiences generally) that it is bad to not keep promises, so the best way to avoid being seen as bad or feeling bad, or failing, or disappointing (or whatever emotion this failure evokes in them) is to not make a promise.

However, not making a promise, also does not set them up to win, to experience fulfillment. It may keep them with an experience of being safe, but they never get the triumph of the win. And the workplace certainly bears the brunt of the consequences of underperformance.

How do you deal with this dilemma for maximum efficiency in an organization?

You deal with this by creating an environment in which people experience being safe in failing.

I know that may sound counterintuitive as you are wanting maximum efficiency, right?! However, if the environment is one in which people are safe failing, they are more likely to take risks, more willing to stretch themselves. This also creates an environment that allows people to celebrate victories and be fulfilled in achieving whatever it is they promised. And this, too, creates more productive and happy employees.

How do you do this? First, there is a conversation to be had with people finding out what happened in the past when they failed to deliver their promises and then creating what you, as the employer, are creating as the environment when people don’t keep their promises.

A note of caution- this does not mean people should make empty or false promises- but if I am going to promise something big and I take all the actions I see to take and something unexpected happens or I did not see actions I needed to take to keep my promise- I won’t keep my promise, but I will have acted in accordance with my promise. Then I can report on this and make a new promise and also see what corrective action I might need to take.

It is very simple and empowering when you create an environment that allows people to stretch themselves and play big. It also indicates to them that you trust them. Not asking someone to make a promise undermines their potential and ability to contribute.