Children are such innocent beings and whatever you say to them, they believe. 

They believe always, all the time … until that one time when you did not deliver on your promise, when you failed to honour your promise. Then, they begin to question promises and its meaning. 

Have you ever made a promise to your child you did not keep?

I sure have …

I'll bring you to the park over the weekend. Weekend comes and it's freezing cold outside and you decide to laze at home instead.

Let's read some stories after dinner. Dinner finishes up and work suddenly beckons and you forgot to read your stories.

These little actions add up and we disappoint a little at a time. 

So, what can we do?

Well, I learnt 2 things to do:

Only make promises you know you can keep, and not of others.

Such a simple principle, yet, we often fail at this, because we want to be nice. Or we over promise and under deliver. It's better to turn down and not promise too much, than to over promise and fail to deliver. Remember, the power to "No"?

This absolutely translate in the work place too. If you can't deliver, don't promise you can. If you need more time, say so. If it ain't going to work, tell somebody. No point making it all rosy up front, and then majorly disappointing after. Not to mention the reputation disaster you have to clean up after.

Keeping it simple, also helps to make the promise more manageable. Breakdown into bite-sized tasks for work, or small little 10 mins fun activities that you know you can absolutely keep for the kids.

Do this and keep the trust going with your kids and your colleagues.

Next, put it down in writing and post it for everyone to see.

The idea is to tell as many people about your promise, doing so motivates you to keep them. Telling others make you committed to make it happen. It also helps you get regular check in from friends and colleagues. At home, make a promise board and stick those promises up there, so you can remind yourself and your kids can remind you too. It also feels good when you finally make good on those promises and check them off. 

Well, as we end the year and move into 2018, many of us are making promises to ourselves (resolutions anyone?) and also to our family and friends. 

This year, let's keep the promises/resolutions simple, only make those you absolutely know you can keep, and tell everyone about it. Get your family and friends involved in encouraging you to make it happen. 

Finally, let me let you in on my little secret. This post comes in the final date of 2017, just a few days after my previous. Want to know why? Because, I made a promise to myself to post 12x articles for 2017, and I intended to keep my promise. Now, about the "go to the gym & lose weight" promise, maybe next year I'll just totally scrap it! (",)

Have a blessed new year!!

#ParentingIsTheNewMBA #SucceedAtWork #CareerTips #ParentingSkills

"Parenting is the new MBA: Succeed at work by applying parenting skills” is a column that combines 2 distinct areas of my life: my professional view on workplace management & my personal experience as a parent.