Episode 39: Elizabeth Doty On Making Only Promises You Can Keep [The Amiel Show] -

Elizabeth Doty is on a mission to focus leaders on their most critical commitments. In Episode 39 of the podcast, this seasoned consultant, author, and frequent contributor to Strategy + Business joins me to ask:

What if we were to take our commitments to each other so seriously that we made only the ones we knew we could keep?
What if companies recognized that the reliability of their promises to customers and society was central to their success?
What if teams stopped waiting around for new leaders to define direction and instead said, “Here’s a proposal for the next three months. Can you support this?”

I think you’ll get great value from this invigorating, high impact conversation. Please share with your friends!

Highlights

5:00 “The company made me a liar.”
7:20 When businesses drift from their promises
13:30 Why scapegoating CEOs or “rogue employees” doesn’t improve outcomes
16:30 Creating shared maps of different parts of the system
18:00 The peril of new leaders ignoring existing commitments
27:00 The measurable benefits of companies keeping commitments
33:00 A “no harm” diamond company commits to a simple rule
41:00 What teams can do during leadership changes instead of waiting for direction
46:30 Why keeping your head down is risky
48:00 The power of “irrational generosity” during downward spirals
52:30 A hopeful story about promises, money, and career trajectories