Promises, Promises

Description

This is an activity for managers and others working in groups to examine the commitment given to commonly used promises, and how they feel about them. The results of the activity should will be a greater understanding of the impact of promises and the personal impact of not keeping them.

 

Learning Points

After completing this activity you will:

• be aware of the damaging effect of breaking promises

• consider the commitment required to keep a promise

• think carefully before making a promise.

 

Method

1. Explain the purpose of the activity.

2. Hand out a copy of the Commonly Used Promises to each participant.

3. Divide the group into subgroup of three people.

4. Each person will take turns to read aloud one of the statements on the list to the other two participants in then group.

5. The listeners will give their reaction to what was said.

6. After approximately 20 minutes reassemble the entire group for feedback.

 

Guidance

This activity can be used in connection with improving interpersonal managerial skills and peripheral imact areas such as communication, counseling, agreeing standards of performance, and time management.

Allow the participants to judge their own reactions, and the reactions of their colleagues to the statements used. Do the participants use any of the promises? Ask the participants to add their own to the list.

Conclusion

Ask which promises are commonly used, usually kept/not kept, and which ones are easy to keep/not keep. Are there any that ought not to be used at work? Are there any that ought not to be broken at work? Why do we often give more commitment to promises in some situations and not others? Do we keep promises more in our private lives than we do at work?

 

Commonly Used Promises

• I do

• I am going to

• I’ll give you a pay rise

• I’ll let you take the time off

• I can

• It’ll be in the mail today

• It will be ready tomorrow

• I’ll make sure you get it

• I’ll finish it tonight

• I will

• You’ll have it by Friday

• I have

• We must have lunch together

• We’ll see

• I’ll meet you there

• You must come over for dinner

• I’ll make sure you hear from me

• Come and see me later

• I will never

• I would if I could