Know Your Yeses and Your Nos
Dear Customers and Friends:
At Syfan Logistics, we firmly believe in transparency throughout our company and with our customers. My brother Steve Syfan, our Executive Vice President who oversees operations, says it this way: “We tell it like it is, bad or good. And when we make a promise, we deliver.”
Steve’s words reflect the message behind Biblical Business Principle #4 – Know Your Yeses and Your Nos – in a book by Christian business coach Ken Gosnell that I have been featuring in our monthly Faith Over Fear series.
Gosnell says Jesus taught his disciples the power of saying, “Yes” or “No” in Matthew 5:36-37 (see below). It is important to be clear in your communications and that your words mean something. One of the best ways to build trust within and outside your organization is to convey to others that they can count on your commitments.
Many leaders, Gosnell says, are wired with a “yes” gene. While this is a good trait, a “no” boundary is also critical to maintain balance and clarity. Saying “no” also frees you to focus on greater priorities. But learn to say “no” with grace by suggesting an alternative or thanking the person who asked and explaining your answer.
Whether you say “yes” or “no,” stand behind your promises. One of the nation’s most influential small business experts, author Frank Sonnenberg, laments the passing of an era when your word was your bond. In his book, Follow Your Conscience, Sonnenberg says the world may have changed, but the importance of integrity has not.
Sonnenberg writes that “if you don’t live up to your word, you may end up tarnishing your credibility, damaging your relationships, and defaming your reputation. Most importantly, you’ll be letting yourself down.”
On the other hand, if you operate with complete integrity, “what you say will be taken at face value, your intentions will be assumed honorable, and your handshake will be as good as a contract.”
In your company, whether you are a leader or a team member, I encourage you to be clear in your “yeses” and “nos” – and then stand behind those words in good conscience.
Blessed to be a Blessing,
Greg Syfan,
President, Syfan Logistics
“And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No;’ anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” Matthew 5:36-37