Easy to say, hard to enact

Sustainability - Personality Development

                       
Losers make promises they often break.  Winners make commitments they always keep. Trust and promises go hand-in-hand. We have all had promises broken by our bosses, subordinates, colleagues and ourselves.  Many times there were very good reasons why we could not follow through on what we promised to do, because we focus too much on the reasons behind the broken promise, rather than the effects that our broken promises have on others.

When someone breaks a promise to us, there is often a shift in the relationship. Depending on the ramifications of that broken promise in our lives, it can destroy the level of trust that may have taken years to establish. If the business relationship is new, it may cause us to be more cautious in our future dealings with both that individual and others as well. We need to believe that what people tell us is the truth.

In this situation, our own personal integrity might have been put to the test because we have made promises to others that were contingent upon someone else’s promise to complete a task at a given time. In such situations, it is not surprising that tempers flare and skepticism infuses future dealings with that person. Care should be taken when making promises. If there is any doubt about the ability to deliver, then that needs to be stated directly and initially.

In work and in life, it is really important not to promise something which cannot be delivered, because at best, it will mar the relationships.

Aiyan Thiruvalluvar says

சொல்லுதல் யார்க்கும் எளிய அரியவாம்

சொல்லிய வண்ணம் செயல்.  (664)

कहना तो सब के लिये, रहता है आसान ।
करना जो जैसा कहे, है दुस्साध्य निदान ॥ (६६४)

Explanation by Scholars:

To say (how an act is to be performed) is (indeed) easy for any one. But far difficult it is to do according to what has been said.

நான் இந்தச் செயலை இப்படிச் செய்யப்போகிறேன் என்று சொல்லுவது எல்லார்க்கும் சுலபம்.  சொல்லியபடியே அதைச்செய்து முடிப்பதுதான் கடினம்.