PROMISES ARE THE CURRENCY OF LEADERSHIP

I Promise….

“Promises are the currency of leadership. What you commit to today shapes the trust you build tomorrow.”

If you have walked the passageways with me you would have heard me talk about “pinky promises”. It’s a lighthearted lesson on a various serious principle and should be a founding value in any org.

As leaders, our “Say vs Do ratio” defines our credibility.

Every unkept promise, every moved goalpost, and every missed commitment chips away at trust within the organisation.

On the other hand, aligning what we say with what we do builds belief, energy, and momentum.

Leadership promises are more than words, they’re commitments that shape trust, drive accountability, and inspire teams, and by defining and delivering on tangible, measurable promises, leaders set the tone for a culture of integrity and follow-through. Promises are powerful, but actions speak louder. That’s why your Say vs Do ratio is a key driver of one keeping their promises.

I have on a number of occasions had my leadership teams stand-up in front of the entire business in a Town Hall and publically state their one key promise that they and their department WILL do everything they can to keep.

Here’s what it looks like when the C-suite keeps their word:

• CFO and Finance: I promise…. to protect financial health without stifling growth.
• COO and Operations: I promise…. to deliver operational excellence with efficiency.
• CMO and Marketing: I promise…. to build campaigns that drive measurable engagement.
• CHRO and People: I promise…. to attract, develop, and retain top talent.
• CSO and KAMs: I promise…. to drive revenue growth with the right sales.
• CTO and Devs: I promise…. to champion innovation while ensuring system reliability.
• CEO: I promise…. to lead with clarity, courage, and accountability.

   

And then we leveled it up…

• Board: We promise…. to oversee governance with integrity and align decisions with long-term strategic success.
• Shareholders: We promise to…. maximise value with sustainable long-term growth initiatives.

   

Leadership is about delivering on what you commit to, building trust one promise at a time.