While innovation is an activity where success is never guaranteed, saying you’re going to do something or achieve something and then failing to take action and deliver results will kill your reputation. When you promise something that you don’t deliver, your colleagues and subordinates lose faith in your word. Your overpromising may be costly, too. The company or your team may have made serious commitments based on what you promised to deliver.

When you say, “Don’t worry, I’ve got this handled!” you’d better mean it. If you find out you’re in over your head, sound the alarm and get assistance ASAP. Have a clear-the-air conversation with the person or team you’ve let down.

First, acknowledge you did not keep your promise.

Second, acknowledge your failure had an impact on the person depending on you.

Third, apologize for the damage you did.

Fourth, offer whatever assistance you can to make it right.

From time to time we all miscalculate what we can deliver, and we fall short. You can earn the respect of your colleagues by taking the high road and behaving honorably.

Innovation Leaders Know…

In order to glean respect from their teams, innovation leaders need to absolutely honor their commitments to their team and the enterprise they work for. They have one singular message that is clear, honest, and realistic. Innovation leaders know their brand as a leader is tenuous, and the best way to protect it is to never overstate what they can and cannot do.