What happens to your credibility when you say you're going to do something and then don't follow through? It doesn't always look like a major betrayal. Sometimes it's the small promises, the casual "we should have lunch," the email you said you'd send, or the commitment you made without even realizing the other person heard it as a promise. Over time, those little gaps between what we say and what we do can shape how people experience us as leaders, partners, and business owners. In Episode 510 of Amplify Your Success, I'm joined by bestselling author, keynote speaker, leadership coach, and founder of the Extreme Leadership Institute, Steve Farber, for a conversation about the deeper meaning of keeping your word and why credibility is one of the most powerful forms of leadership currency. Steve's new book, The Radical Promise, brings this idea to life in a way that goes far beyond simply following through on a list of commitments. We talk about what it means to actually live in alignment with the values, principles, and standards we say are important, and why the gap between what we say and what we do can have such a profound impact on the people around us. We also get into the commitments we make without even realizing we're making them, the patterns that can cause us to overpromise, and what changes when we become more intentional about the words we use. And toward the end of our conversation, Steve gives us a simple one-week practice that can help us pay much closer attention to what we're saying, what we're committing to, and where we may have opportunities to strengthen our own credibility. Key Takeaways: [00:03:09] Consistently doing what you say you will do is surprisingly rare, and the gaps between our words and actions can significantly affect how others perceive us. [00:05:39] Credibility is built through behavior, and great leadership requires us to actually live out the values and priorities we say are important. [00:10:35] Holding yourself 100% accountable to your own words can strengthen your effectiveness, reputation, relationships, and credibility. [00:13:22] Leaders earn the credibility to ask for accountability from others when they first establish that standard for themselves. [00:15:03] Doing what you say you will do goes beyond following through on promises and commitments to acting in ways that are congruent with your values. [00:19:02] Casual statements can become implied commitments, making self-awareness and intentional communication essential to protecting trust and credibility. [00:23:17] Identifying your personal patterns around overpromising, saying yes too easily, or failing to follow through can reveal where your own "say and do" gaps exist. [00:29:18] Following through on commitments to yourself, even after the original motivation fades, can create a positive feedback loop that strengthens your relationship with your own word. [00:32:21] Self-awareness, clear communication, and choosing to see commitments as opportunities can help create greater consistency between what you say and what you do. [00:41:44] Tracking both your explicit commitments and implied promises for one week can reveal patterns and help you become more intentional about the words you speak and the commitments you make. About The Guest: Steve Farber is a bestselling author, sought-after keynote speaker, and seasoned leadership coach and consultant who has worked with a vast array of public and private organizations across virtually every industry. He is the founder and CEO of The Extreme Leadership Institute, whose team has helped more than 25 companies earn a place on Best Places to Work lists. Farber is the author of six acclaimed books on leadership. His first, The Radical Leap, earned Fast Company's Readers' Choice Award and was named one of the 100 Best Business Books of All Time. His third book, Greater Than Yourself, debuted as a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller. His fourth, Love Is Just Damn Good Business, has been featured on Wharton Radio and the World Economic Forum, and was named a top business strategy book by Book Authority. He also co-authored Twisted Business: Lessons from My Life in Rock and Roll with Jay Jay French, founder, manager, and guitarist of the iconic rock band, Twisted Sister. Farber is a member of the Transformational Leadership Council and serves on the nonprofit boards of the Community Alliance for Youth Success and Art as Mentorship. His newest book, The Radical Promise: Mastering the Art of Doing What You Say You Will Do, is co-written with leadership luminaries Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner and published by John Wiley & Sons. Connect With The Guest: Connect with Steve on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevefarber/ Follow Steve on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/stevefarber/ Check out Steve's Website For Some Great Resources - www.stevefarber.com Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Get Steve Farber's book, The Radical Promise, here and access a free sample chapter to get a first look at the book. - https://theradicalpromise.com/ Want me to help you build out your Substack to amplify your thought leaders, build an aligned community and leverage an ecosystem that acts like your invisible sales force? Get details on the UnIgnorable Substack Accelerator Program. - https://melaniebenson.com/usa Curious how Substack could help you land more clients (and valuable collaborations that amplify your reach?) Join me for Your Invisible Sales Force Masterclass! https://melaniebenson.com/masterclass Join me on Substack here to discover what's working now as our industry continues to evolve. Be sure to join as a Growth Fuel subscriber to gain access to upcoming live trainings and valuable tools to grow through collaboration and strategic visibility. - https://coachmelaniebenson.substack.com/
