Leadership Deposits: Tip #2 — Follow Through on Your Word

I once heard Ed Mylett say on his podcast that one of the greatest confidence builders—or killers—is whether or not a person follows through on their word. 

That’s not just about self-trust.
It’s about how people experience you—especially if you’re in a position of leadership. 

Think about someone you know who always says they’ll do something but never does. 

What’s your confidence level in them? Probably low. Why? 

They’ve made too many withdrawals. And if someone is consistently racking up withdrawals in their relationships, they can’t lead effectively—no matter how talented or well-intentioned they are. 

Now think about the opposite. 

Someone who follows through. They say it, then they do it. You trust them because their track record proves you can. They’ve made consistent deposits. That’s the foundation of real leadership. 

I’ll be the first to admit—I haven’t always been perfect in this area, especially in my younger years. When I reflect on why I failed to follow through, it usually came down to three things: 

1. I said yes to things I couldn’t do—or didn’t want to do. 
2. I didn’t schedule it. 
3. I made an emotional decision without thinking through the logistics. 

I bet you’ve been there. You say yes in the moment to avoid letting someone down, or because you’re fired up and want to help—without fully considering the time, energy, or resources it will actually require. Then reality hits. 

The result? A withdrawal. 

Say "No" In Your Head First

Is one of the better tools I’ve found to fix this and comes from Brendon Burchard’s High Performance Habits. 

Here’s how it works. 

The next time someone asks you to do something, resist the automatic yes. In your head, say no first. That pause gives you space to ask three critical questions: 

• Can I actually do this? (Check your schedule.) 
• Do I want to do this? (Be honest with yourself.) 
• Does this logically make sense—or is this just an emotional reaction? 

If any one of those answers is no, your chances of following through drop significantly. But if all three are yes, you’re greenlit—and far more likely to follow through. It’s a simple but powerful filter. 

Once you commit, write it down. Schedule it. Set an alarm. Create a reminder. Avoid relying on memory or good intentions. 

Even if your heart is in the right place, forgetting to follow through still registers as a withdrawal with the other person. 

As I once heard a coach say, “The dullest pencil is sharper than the sharpest mind.”
Write it down. Use your calendar. Use your tools. There’s no excuse not to. 

Follow-through is trust in action.
And trust is the currency of leadership. 

Keep your word, and your people will follow. Break it enough times, and they won’t. 

It’s that simple.

Next week, we’ll tackle the third area where great leaders create deposits with those they lead. 

Easy Easy,

-Luke Falk

See you next Monday!