Doing What You Say & the Power of Walking The Talk

Walk the talk.

A skill that has been lost by many.

Simply put, doing what you say.

Many people (and companies) these days seem to have forgotten this simple concept.

Instead, we live in a daily environment of broken promises, unfulfilled statements, and even outright lies.

Do you do what you say?

Walking the Talk

The “talk” is what you say you are going to do.

The “walk” is what you do.

People love to talk the walk.

They love to tell you what they are going to do.

However, when it comes to actually doing, not many have the discipline or resolve to walk the talk. To do what they said they would.

Talking is easy. 

Doing is hard.

Doing what you said you were going to do… is harder still.

Do what do what you say you will?

Or do you do a lot of talking and not much follow-up?

Doing What You Say

We mislead ourselves. We mislead others.

Sometimes unintentionally. Sometimes on purpose.

Here are some tips to help you walk your talk:

1. Doing Instead of Talking - There is a time for talking, and a time for doing. Make sure you know where one stops and the other begins. Doing something now, is almost always better than doing nothing.
2. Say No – Instead of making a promise that you know you’re not going to keep, say “No” at the outset. This applies to the promises we make to ourselves, as well as others. Don’t make a promise that you know you can’t or won’t keep.
3. Consider Your Reputation – We all have a time management reputation. Do people view you as reliable? Do they know and expect that you will do what you say? Your actions determine how others view you and ultimately how they treat you.
4. Don’t Lie to Yourself – We often think the act of lying to ourselves is harmless. After all, we are not hurting anyone else. That is a shortsighted view. Your impact on yourself inevitably affects those around you. This is true at work, at home, and in your community.
5. Broken Promises – This is lying to others. Don’t do it. Once you start, it is hard to stop. Often people, and more often companies, don’t think that others will notice their unfulfilled promises. Nothing could be further from the truth. Others may not be telling you about your broken promises but they are aware. (See #3)
6. You CAN Change Your Talk - Often, people feel trapped by their statements. They say one thing and then circumstances change. That is OK. You can change your “talk.” The important thing is that you have to tell people.

Tell the Truth

Don’t tell me what you are going to do.

Instead, simply do what you say.

Tell the truth.

To your team. To you family and friends.

And of course, to yourself.

Question: What do you say you are going to do, that you don’t do?

Time Management Ninja