Removing an Obligation Feels Good

Follow through, or don’t commit

I’m usually pretty good about completing tasks I’ve committed to. But every now and again something comes along – an obligation or task – that I leave hanging longer than I should.

It happened to me again today, I had an activity that I’ve been dragging my feet on and finally forced myself to follow through on it and close it out. I feel much better now without the obligation hanging over me, and wish I had done it earlier…

Why do we take on obligations and procrastinate instead of completing them?

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Unpleasant activities

In this particular case, I was procrastinating because I didn’t want to give bad news.

You see, I sent an email to several vendors to get information for a client about the services they offer. I picked one of them, but I still needed to send a note back to two others saying I’d be going in another direction.

I don’t like giving bad news, even if it’s declining a quote I requested.

But I really needed to close it out – I don’t like leaving things unfinished and I don’t like leaving people hanging.

Putting off until tomorrow

The easy way out is to delay. Why do something unpleasant today when you can leave it for tomorrow? And who knows, maybe it’ll go away all on its own…

Sure, that’s one approach. But more often than not, the task doesn’t go away on it’s own and just becomes heavier each day.

How good is your commitment?

I guess, for me at least, it’s a matter of integrity and character.

An unfinished task calls your commitment into question. Are you the kind of person that agrees to do something and then fails to follow through on that agreement?

I’m not, and I’d say that most people aren’t either.

Face the unpleasantness

In my case, it was a matter of deciding that I had to let a couple people down – as easily and professionally as I know how. And thinking about it later, I’m sure they get turned down all the time – and are much happier knowing that I’ve gone in another direction than being strung out waiting to hear from me. They get to move on as well.

[As a vendor, I receive many requests for information about my products and services and I always appreciate it when the potential client contacts me to decline. Not only does it keep me from wondering, but it also allows me to learn why they declined and gives me a chance to adjust. – ed.]

Good Business Etiquette

I may not be able to make every potential salesperson happy, but I can deal with them in an upfront manner – and that works for me.