Is Under-Promising and Over-Delivering the Right Strategy to Grow in Your Career?

People in general advise that the best way to impress your superiors is to under-promise and over-deliver. But there is another school of thought that is quite contradictory to this advice. Let us find out what this new advice is and if this advice will help you in your career growth.

Modern gurus are very much against under-promising and over-delivering. Instead, they advise that you should over-promise and over-deliver. What does "over-promising and over-delivering" mean? Its implied meaning is that you should be proactive in your approach. When the management expects you to do the jobs assigned to you in the right manner, you should volunteer to offer beyond what is expected from you. Simply put, you should promise to surpass their expectations.

  

What can a proactive approach do for your career?

A proactive approach is an accelerator that can fast-track your career success. In fact, this approach is what differentiates a great performer from a good performer. By being a great performer, you can ensure not only your growth but the growth of your organization as well. Even Dondi Scumaci, who is considered an expert in the realm of leadership, says, “Compliance will never take you where commitment can go.” So, you must remain committed to adopting a proactive approach.

This approach comes with another benefit as well. You will inspire your peers and colleagues also and if everyone in the organization adopts this approach, the company is certain to scale unimaginably great heights. 

If you just comply with the instructions of your management, you will be considered a responsive employee. On the other hand, if you adopt a proactive approach and voluntarily over-promise and over-deliver, you will prove to be an asset for your company. The top management of the company will very soon come to know of your proactive approach and hence, they will pick you up for a suitable top position.

Unfortunately, most of the employees hate over-promising and over-delivering. Only a few have this attitude. That is the reason the pyramid is not crowded at the top. Be among these few people and achieve remarkable growth in your career.