We All Make Missteps

Dinah Liversidge!

Some years ago I had the pleasure of seeing a presentation by my friend, Dinah Liversidge, of Potential Unlimited, where she talked about raising our credibility with each other.

While networking we learn about the concept of VCP – Visibility + Credibility = Profitability. We get visibility quite easily by attending networking meetings and events, joining various business organizations and generally doing business.

Credibility is the next step. Do what you say you are going to do in the time you said you were going to do it for the price you have quoted. But what happens when you take a misstep at this point? We’ve all had it happen – you forget to return a phone call in a timely manner, you promise something to someone and it doesn’t get done, you say something in front of someone that offends them and you know something is off, but you let it go.

Then you remember – and now comes the guilt part. Well, we all make mistakes. It’s what you do afterwards that makes the difference. Right now you might be able to recall something that you were supposed to do that makes you uncomfortable because it’s still hanging out there, unfinished, and unresolved.

Dinah says to not only give others a second chance, but give yourself a second chance. Pick up the phone – yes, pick up the phone! – and call and ask for forgiveness. Apologize, admit your mistake, and then make it right. The person at the other end will be just as happy to have a resolution to it as you are, and they can give you a gift by forgiving your misstep and moving forward together to a resolution.

As Tony Wolfe says….GO DO™! You’ll feel much better for it!