How To Always Keep Your Promises (And Help Others Keep Theirs)
Hey 👋 - Ilya here.
What's up and welcome to the Weekly One on One!
Here's one short tip on how to Level Up as a developer.
Today's issue takes about 2 minutes to read.
Enjoy
In this issue, you're going to discover a simple but super powerful technique I used to make sure I deliver on my promises and that commitments don't fall through the cracks.
In 2008 during my studies, I was accepted to a very selective entrepreneurial scholarship program. Besides a full-time job and my regular studies, the program involved multiple weekly team meetings, brainstorming, and workshops over the course of three semesters.
The commitments broke me.
I was promising things and forgetting about them. People stopped relying on me. I almost got kicked out of the program if it wasn't for a friend. He introduced me to the whole area of personal development and gave me one book to read: "Getting Things Done" by David Allen.
One quote stuck with me in particular:
Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them.
This means that you should not rely on your brain to remember things. You need what David Allen calls a 'trusted system'. The crucial idea is that you trust your system and rely on it to remember for you.
Like pen and paper? Go for it!
Like apps and gadgets? Go for it!
You just need to trust it.
2 Most Important Lists
Since that time I have been keeping 2 lists:
- Promises I make
- Waiting for
1. My Promises
Every time something comes up in a conversation, email or when I confirm a commitment, I add it to the list of things I promised to do.
2. Waiting For
Every time someone promises to do something, I write it down.
Review
Once the items are on my list, it's just a matter of reviewing them. Do whatever works for you. For me it changes all the time. Sometimes daily, sometimes weekly, sometimes by accident.
Reviewing those lists reminds you of all those commitments and now you can decide what to do:
- Put it on your calendar to actually do it
- Request more info
- Ping someone about their promise
Bonus: Meeting Notes
About a year ago I came across a wonderful video by Heinrich Rusche on his "Firm Learning" channel.
He shares a great technique for taking notes, that I since have adopted. On paper as well as for digital notes.
When in a meeting, I split the page and add 2 columns where I can directly add my and others' commitments.
Do It Now
Think about the last thing you promised someone. How are you making sure to not forget about it?
What was the last promise someone made for you? If it's important for you, are you going to remember and follow up?
Give the 2 lists a try, it might help you the same way it helped me:
- My promises
- Waiting for
Go!
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See you again next week.
Cheers,
Ilya