Module 5 · Building relationships · Lesson 3 of 10

Consistency and reliability

Being the same person on a good day and a bad one, and doing what you said.

6 min read · Level: Beginner · Free — no account needed to read

The idea

Consistency means being roughly the same person on a good day and a bad one: people know what to expect from you. Reliability means doing what you said you would, when you said you would — or saying early when you can’t.

Neither is glamorous, and both are rare. People who are consistent and reliable become the ones others call when something matters.

Why it matters

Reliability is the most practical form of respect. It tells people their time and plans matter to you.

See it happen

Munna often agrees to help friends move house, then cancels the morning of.

The first reaction

He means it when he agrees; things just come up.

With the idea

He starts saying yes only when he is sure, and gives notice early if plans change. Friends start relying on him again.

What changed

Fewer, kept promises built more trust than many broken ones.

Easy to get wrong

• Saying yes to everything, then letting people down.
• Staying silent when you can’t keep a commitment, instead of telling people early.

Try it now: Your commitments

1. List the commitments you have made to people this week.
2. Mark any you are at risk of not keeping.
3. For each, decide: do it, or tell them now.

Questions to think about

• Where are you most reliable, and where do you let people down most?
• What makes you agree to things you won’t do?

Your challenge this week

If you can’t keep a commitment this week, tell the person early and plainly.