What are the best ways to respond to others when they do not keep their promises? Clearly, responses like anger, resentment and recrimination are counterproductive. What kinds of positive choices are available?
A basic first step is to appeal to the core values that may have been the foundation for the promise in the first place. Appealing to basic values like fairness, integrity and truth may shift the result.
The desired degree of action about a broken promise is most often a function of its importance and impact. At their most extreme, broken promises can result in significant emotional distress and other kinds of difficulty. Yet, the principle of a broken promise can be deeply troublesome even if the issue is primarily one of keeping one’s word.
How have you wanted to be treated when you have broken promises in the past? What are the extents to which you have gone to have others live up to their promises? What are your limits and boundaries about broken promises? Most importantly, what have you learned about promises and how to engage in productive promise-making that produces great results?