Your word is the cornerstone to building a successful enterprise. Here are four tips effective … [+]
There’s immeasurable value in embodying the principle of honoring your word when more and more promises seem to dissipate into thin air. Trust today feels like a rare commodity — especially in the workplace.
Keeping your word is an essential component of integrity. Your word is promising to do what you promise. According to psychologists, breaking your promise sends a message that you don’t value the person to whom you gave your word. It teaches people that they cannot trust you. In time, these tiny fissures undermine your credibility as a human and as a business leader.
Doing what you promise to do builds trust, which is the foundation of a successful and integrous business.
No one knows this better than Hassan Mahmoud, founder and CEO of Eaconomy. Shaped by his father’s teachings from a young age, he has seamlessly integrated this philosophy into both his personal and professional life. He believes keeping your word is “a secret weapon” in the business world, attracting success, loyal partnerships, and enduring support.
Mahmoud has a steadfast commitment to integrity. Here, he shares how effective leaders can build relationships that empower their business by staying true to their word.
1. Integrity creates the foundation of trust.
Mahmoud’s father instilled a fundamental truth: Your handshake becomes a matter of honor, and it becomes your duty to fulfill it. Research agrees — 91% of business leaders believe trust improves their bottom line. Yet the same research shows that members of the C-suite overestimate how much they’re trusted … by 57%!
Diverse perspectives among consumers, employees, and investors are one of the leading challenges to building trust. Understanding the pain points of your stakeholders is the first step. Identify and address their frustrations. This single action will help you establish trust. It shows that you’re listening and making the necessary changes.
Integrity is embedded into Mahmoud’s character. It forms the bedrock of his relationships professionally and personally.
2. Upholding your commitment builds successful partnerships.
Trust is fortified by a steadfast commitment to one’s word. Mahmoud asserts, “Demonstrating an unwavering commitment to your word distinguishes you from those seeking fleeting gains.” Potential partners are naturally drawn to those they can rely on, forming enduring alliances built on credibility and reliability.
In the workplace, leaders who are committed show that they’re willing to work hard to achieve a common goal. The Achieve Center for Leadership describes commitment as persistence with a purpose. They distinguish commitment from interest. Interest is doing something when it’s easy. Commitment means following through regardless of the challenges that present themselves.
Fulfilling your commitments is quintessential to building trust, and trustworthiness builds successful relationships.
3. Honoring your word fosters loyal and dedicated employees.
Upholding promises — like providing pathways for growth — forms bonds with employees, fostering loyalty and dedication. Empowered teams, nurtured by leaders true to their word, fuel an environment conducive to success.
Mahmoud believes that employees who feel supported and valued by their superiors are motivated to go above and beyond in their work. Research shows that recognition increases employee engagement by 14%. It also shows that employees who are recognized are 63% more likely to stay in their current jobs.
4. Connection delights customers.
In today’s globally connected world, customers have a lot of choices. They’re savvy and quick to recognize genuine integrity. Educating customers about your products or services and delivering on your promises are vital components of building a loyal customer base.
Mahmoud recommends exceeding customer expectations to earn their trust and loyalty. In his own business, he has realized that satisfied customers become brand advocates — they spread positive word-of-mouth and enhance client retention. And studies show that boosting customer retention by just 5% can increase profits from 25% to 95%.
Follow Mahmoud’s guidebook: Consistently deliver on your promises to create a powerful connection that goes beyond transactional relationships. Delight your customers.
5. Being honorable attracts high-level individuals.
Mahmoud has learned that by consistently honoring your word, you attract high-caliber individuals to your network who appreciate the depth of your character and the reliability of your commitments. These individuals recognize that in an era of fleeting promises, those who keep their word stand out as exceptional.
In the realm of leadership, the sanctity of your word is the cornerstone of trust, integrity, and enduring success. Embodying this principle isn’t just about fulfilling promises; it’s a testament to your character. Mahmoud, the visionary behind Eaconomy, exemplifies the belief that “your word is your bond.” It’s not solely about commitment but cultivating trust. Trust creates meaningful relationships — with customers, employees, and partners. By honoring your word, you don’t just build a business, you craft a legacy of reliability that magnetizes success and attracts the exceptional.
