I guess in any profession, there are times when people don't follow through. You miss a deadline, you forget an appointment, you let someone down... I can tell you that here in my office I have spent many an hour (including this one) waiting for someone who made an appointment but didn't show up. I understand that emergencies happen and plans need to be change... I also understand that sometimes people make an appointment to see a therapist when they're in the midst of a particular crisis. Then, if the crisis is lifted before the appointment, they may think, "Oh, I don't need to go to that appointment anymore." I completely understand that, but would it kill them to call?
So, outside of my bellyaching about having to sit here for the next hour by myself, why should you care? How does this apply to you? Why does it matter? And why is it an important discussion for all of our lives?
The short answer is that being reliable matters. I believe that when we give our word to someone and keep our word, our lives tend to work better. By doing this, people know that our word means something -- that we are reliable. And being reliable can make economic sense as well. People who can be counted on and trusted are people who tend to get more responsibility and higher pay in the work force. There's something about trusting someone to follow through on what they say that makes that person stand out -- gets them noticed in a good way. At work, it sets them apart from the rest, and may lead to faster promotions and becoming a more valuable employee.
Everybody wants to be around people they can count on. People you can count on, become closer friends, don't they? Think about it... who are your closest friends? The ones who are flaky or the ones who follow through on their commitments? These are also people who tend to be more valued at work. And it all starts with following through on your commitments and having your word mean something. When you give your word to someone -- whether it's to drive them somewhere, or get a report done for work, you are being counted on to do what you say you're going to do. You matter. People are trusting that you will be there when they need you. And that type of trust and reliability can make a real difference in your life.
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