I have a dear friend who has many good qualities. He is funny and well dressed, intelligent and thoughtful. But whenever I tell people about him, I boast the same trait of his first and foremost. I say, “He always does exactly what he says he’s going to do.” And this morning, it got me thinking. What is that quality? Can it be quantified?
And suddenly, it occurred to me – it’s a trait we don’t often talk about. Reliability. Interviewing for jobs, we boast our innovation, our loyalty, our work ethic. We often list our stellar communication skills, our professionalism, and our energetic nature. But how often do we boast about reliability? We should. Everyone should. It’s a quality we all look for in friends, in family members and in employees.
Being reliable isn’t just about showing up on time. That’s punctuality. Being reliable isn’t about answer the phone when someone calls. That’s availability. Being reliable isn’t about getting projects in on time. That’s just organization skills. True reliability is exactly what I boast about my friend – doing exactly what you say you’re going to do every single time. That kind of reliability is difficult to find. But if you have that kind of reliability, by all means, show it off! It’s a trait every team needs.
About the Author: Marcy Twete
Marcy Twete is the Founder and CEO of Career Girl Network and the author of the book “You Know Everybody! A Career Girl’s Guide to Building a Network That Works.” At Career Girl Network, Marcy provides women with information, resources, and networking to empower them in their careers and to advance the work of women in business as a whole. Prior to launching Career Girl Network, Marcy worked in numerous nonprofit organizations and as a consultant in the field of nonprofit fundraising, marketing, and community relations. Marcy is a graduate of the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota, and a native of rural North Dakota. She is the Vice Chair of the Chicago Board of Directors for Step Up Women’s Network in Chicago and a member of the Advisory Board for Girls on the Run Twin Cities, and is dedicated to advancing the work of organizations that move the needle for women and girls worldwide.
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