The Importance of Follow Through

Dependability. If your employer doesn’t have absolute confidence that you’ll complete whatever you’re assigned, then your chances of long-term success at that job are limited.

Young people are notorious for excuses. And in school, you can forget to do a homework assignment with little or no real repercussions. Especially if you don’t care too much about your grade.

In the workplace, that mentality will get you fired. The quality or trait of being dependable depends on your ability to follow through.

My Dog Ate My Homework

Excuses may work in school, but not so much at work. Whereas your inability to follow through only hurts you in school, in the workplace your ability to follow through hurts the customer, the company’s reputation, and bottom line.

Other than developing soft skill traits like determination, flexibility, and problem-solving, what can you do to be more dependable? To follow through?

Watch the video.

  • The first step to following through is to know beforehand exactly what’s being asked of you. Know exactly what you are committing to.

  • Next, before agreeing to take on any assignment, you need to consider if you have the time, ability, and know-how to accomplish what’s being asked of you. You’ll need all three to be able to follow through. If you have the ability and knowledge to do something but fail and use the excuse “I didn’t have enough time.” You did’’t take the vital step of determining if you have all three components: time, ability, and knowledge.

  • After you’ve started your task, if you find that you don’t know how to do something, ask questions. “I didn’t know how” should never be an excuse you use in the workplace. Unlike your teacher, your boss will have expected you to find the answer by asking someone or doing the research yourself. Whereas asking questions or for help in school might not be common, asking questions or for help in the workplace is very acceptable.

  • You’re no longer in school. There are no grades. There is just your reputation. Are you known as someone who can get things done? Are you dependable? Will you be someone they can count on? Take pride in your work reputation now. Be dependable now, and you’ll be the go-to person once you reach the workplace.

Steps for Change

Metacognitive Goal

Use the metacognitive goal as explained in the video. Also, be honest. Do you make a lot of excuses? Or are you known for being dependable?

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