Words and Deeds – ElPropósito3 min de lectura

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Credibility comes from doing what you say and saying things with coherence, which means with a firm purpose. When an organization promotes a set of values and goals among its people, it wants everyone to share the feeling of working and fighting to reach them. Acting without waiting to be told (initiative), or owning the result and inspiring others (leadership), goes hand in hand with one great habit: leading by example. Results come to those who dare to follow through on everything they committed to.

Actions really do speak louder than words. They speak for people and about people, and they’re a living result that can’t be hidden or dimmed. So what does it take to do what we said we’d do? Last Sunday I wrote about listening, and knowing how to listen is a fundamental part of doing. It goes beyond keeping quiet. It means listening to our inner voice, the one that always says "this is the right thing to do" (usually a value whispering in our ear, because we carry it within). After listening, the next move is daring to take the first step.

A first step can be a huge challenge for one person and an everyday act for another. That’s why respecting ourselves, whatever step we’re about to take, is essential to start the journey with determination. I’ve come to believe that doing what I say I’ll do truly is a habit. You see it daily in people who are worthy examples of it, and in organizations that pursue their aspirations with discipline and execute their plans steadily and confidently. My conclusion: it’s a hard habit to build.

So what makes it hard to do what we say? Leadership is the engine that lets this habit fly. To fly a plane you also need a compass, and purpose provides it. And you need a skilled pilot, which is what values give us. With clear leadership, purpose and values, a person or an organization can build a habit as important as "doing what they say they’ll do." It also becomes easy to spot someone who keeps their promises, once we learn to recognize those qualities so deeply rooted in how they live and carry themselves.

The highest cost of any result is the cost of inaction. The greatest benefit, then, comes from taking steps. Sometimes you just need to start (that’s my case), make the right adjustments along the way, learn from what works and what doesn’t, and keep trusting and reinventing each step. You’ll meet critics of every kind on the road. The key is to remember that actions always speak louder than words. What do your actions say about you?

Warm regards,

Rodrigo Baccaro

P.S. As for this week’s VELA, I’ve been immersed in La conquista de América contada para escépticos.

Author: Rodrigo Baccaro

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