The Power of Impeccable Agreements in Leadership
One of the most important commitments we can make is to be impeccable with our word. Doing what we say we will and honoring our agreements reflects our integrity, our character and can significantly impact our relationships, credibility and leadership effectiveness.
It is one of the four pillars of Katie Hendriks “Four Pillars of Integrity” model. When we are impeccable with our agreements, we only say things that we mean, and we always keep our promises. When we are impeccable with our agreements, we build trust and respect with others. We create a more positive and productive environment for ourselves and our teams. We also keep our life-force energy flowing when we act in a way that is congruent with the agreements we make with ourselves and with others.
It seems like a simple concept, but we consciously and unconsciously break agreements all the time. According to Katie’s research, only 3% of people keep their agreements and do what they say they will do. One of the most common ways we break our agreements is not meeting deadlines, but it can also occur when we gossip, or when we offer to help a colleague and then don’t follow through, or when we say yes to something when we really meant no, and then we don’t follow up on our commitments.
There are many ways to be impeccable with our agreements;
Be clear and direct in our communication.
Avoid making promises that we cannot keep.
Be honest, even when it is difficult.
Take responsibility for our words and actions.
Avoid and eliminate gossip.
Apologize when we make mistakes.
Make amends when we break our word.
Here are some examples of how being impeccable with our agreements can benefit us:
When we keep our promises, we build trust with others. This can lead to stronger relationships and better opportunities.
When we are honest, even when it is difficult, we build credibility and respect.
When we take responsibility for our words and actions, we learn from our mistakes and grow.
When we apologize when we make mistakes, we show that we are humble and willing to learn.
When we make amends when we break our word, we show that we are committed to doing the right thing. This can help us restore our integrity and earn back the trust of others.
When we work to eliminate gossip, we open up space for candor and creative collaboration.
When we do the above, we set an example and model the behavior for others to follow.
When we choose to be impeccable with our agreements, we are choosing to lead with integrity and compassion. When we break them, we can make a conscious choice to make amends.
Making Agreements
Katie Hendricks suggests before making agreements to ask ourselves “Do I actually do what I say I'm going to do? And am I willing to do what I say I'm going to do?
We have a natural tendency to say yes to everything. Before making an agreement, check in with yourself and ask, “If I say yes to this, what am I saying no to? Is it an agreement I can commit to?"
Conclusion
When we are impeccable with our agreements, we create a more positive and productive environment for ourselves and those around us. We also build trust, respect, and compassion. When we fail to keep our agreements, we weaken trust and damage our credibility and relationships. If we want to increase our leadership effectiveness and impact, we must commit to being impeccable with our word and making conscious agreements that we can commit to.
Recommended Resources
The Four Pillars of Integrity by Katie Hendriks
The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership by Jim Dethmer, Diana Chapman & Kaley Warner Klemp (See Commitment 5 and Commitment 6)
Gossip Clearing Model by Conscious Leadership Group