Promises, whether big or small, are something we’ve all made. We’ve kept some and we’ve broken some which have ultimately had an influence on our personal relationships.

This same concept is something that can apply to our client relationships as well. When working with a client, failure to deliver on your promises is something that can jeopardize that relationship. In your business, this is important to avoid as your clients and customers need to be able to trust you.

The negative consequences of breaking promises

There are many negative consequences of breaking promises, the number one being loss of trust. Trust is the foundation for you and your client to be able to build a strong relationship. 

If there is no trust, it’s nearly impossible to move forward successfully with your client. 

If you promised something and didn’t end up following through with that promise for your client, 

you’re automatically put in a position where trust between you both are broken. 

Once that trust is gone and it’s incredibly difficult to get back, and in the end, you’re left with a disappointed client and failed client relationship. This can also impact other people around you. If other people are made aware of the broken promise, they may lose trust in you as well.

How to follow through with your promises every time

If you’re struggling to keep promises, or are looking to better strengthen your client relationships, there are a few things you can do.

Be realistic about what you can and cannot do

Sometimes it’s easy to overestimate our capacity and our capabilities. It is completely okay to recognize your strengths and your weaknesses and be transparent to yourself about them. 

If you’re feeling unsure about whether or not you can keep a promise, it’s likely a better option to say ‘no’ than to risk not being able to keep it. 

At the end of the day, this is about building strong and meaningful relationships with your clients and being realistic about what you can and cannot do is a vital component to that.

Be honest with yourself and others

Being transparent to yourself is important, but it’s also important for others as well. If you can’t keep a promise, it’s crucial to let the other person know as soon as possible. Again, it’s better to be open about what you’re capable of taking on, rather than jeopardizing your time and the time of your clients. Sometimes the act of being honest in a timely manner can be remembered and can have a much greater impact than dishonesty and a broken promise.

Remember, it’s hard to repair damage from broken relationships

Oftentimes, our go-to solution to a broken promise is doing what we can to try and fix them. This may be apologizing or trying to make amends. 

It’s not realistic to continue repairing damage from broken relationships because of the amount of trust that has already been lost. At the end of the day, it’s always easier to go with ‘no’ than to make a promise if you’re not fully confident you can keep the promise. 

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Whether you’re broken promises before, have recently broken one, or are trying to avoid breaking them when it comes to your client relationships, remind yourself of the tips above. When you follow these tips, maintaining strong client and customer relationships can be much more attainable.

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