How do you react when a vendor, supplier, client, coach, contractor or employee doesn’t keep their promises? Most Christian female business owners will not speak up. Most will simply make excuses as to why the person disappointed them, then they’ll simply not refer business to that person any longer.

This is the wrong approach…

Many business owners have no one to keep them accountable. Many are working in their own bubble. If they make a promise and don’t deliver, there’s no one to tell them so.

This happens in churches as well. Most boards and committees are made up of volunteers. They make plans and promises, but when neither are kept, no one holds them accountable. Most churches will say “Well, it’s hard enough getting volunteers in the first place, so we can’t brow beat the ones we have.”

Well, your business isn’t a church…

You’re paying good money to hire people to help you with day-to-day tasks, so when one disappoints you or doesn’t keep a promise, you must speak up.

It’s not good to react out of emotion, but neither is it appropriate to throw up your hands and walk away from the situation. If you were counting on someone and they did not deliver, you have to let them know. And all you need to do is start your communication with “I’m disappointed.”

A colleague disappointed me two-years ago…

In 2012, I asked a colleague of mine by email to do a 90-second sizzle video for an event I was hosting. He replied asking that I fill out a creative brief so he could quote me the right price. I completed the form and emailed it to him the next day. He replied saying that he’ll look at my answers then provide me with a quote and timeline by Monday (3-days later).

More than a week passed by…

I was being pressed by all sides to get things ready for the event. I completely forgot about the video until the sales page was just about ready to launch. I revisited my inbox only to see that our last communication was his promise made 10-days earlier. I was angry that over a week had gone by and my colleague didn’t follow up with me as he promised.

I then had a conversation with myself, stating that “Well, I guess that’s why he doesn’t have much business.” And “Screw him, I do this myself.” In other words, I started making excuses for him.

I was going to fester in my anger when I did one thing that freed me of this emotion. I sent him the following reply…

“I’m disappointed that you didn’t follow up with me after I sent the form back to you. I ended up having to do the video myself which is not where I want to spend my time or energy.”

Within the hour, he replied apologizing for dropping the ball, stating that he was drowning under the administrative work after letting his assistant go. So, I sent him some referrals, then I went on my way. Of course, I never used him again for video work, but I felt vindicated because I expressed my disappointment in a non-emotional way.

Here are my tips on how to express your disappointment…

1. Start with the words “I’m disappointed…” By starting with the word “I” it shows you’re not passing blame. The word “disappointed” tends to grab attention rather quickly.
2. State what you’re disappointed about. The best thing to do is to react to the promise that was not kept. So, if the person promised to “send the edited manuscript by Jan 12th” and it’s now Jan 15th, reply with “I’m disappointed that the edited manuscript was not sent by Jan 12th.”
3. Keep it short. No need to get longwinded. One to two sentences is all you need.
4. Reply to the email thread where the promise was made. Most times, the person will want to re-read the words they typed up. Instead of creating a new email, just reply to one where the person made the promise that they failed to deliver.

If you want to unleash the flow of money and create consistent cashflow in your ministry or business, you need to hold people accountable when they do not deliver.

What are some other tips you can share on how to handle promises not kept? Share below…