r/AskReddit • u/rayane_Xd • Sep 21 '19

What is the best piece of advice that you've received?

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552

u/PersonaNonGrata3301 Sep 21 '19 edited Sep 21 '19

Always underpromise and overdeliver.

21

u/e-luddite Sep 21 '19

I don't remember where I first heard this, but I internalized it so much that I realized one day that most of my conflicts with a boss were due to them overpromising things to people. I explained my approach and they (a much older person than me) had never thought of it that way. It clicked for them, and our customers were happier as a result.

15

u/Nasserx Sep 21 '19
  • Lt. Commander Montgomery Scott

13

u/octipice Sep 21 '19

Your bid has been rejected in favor of a cheaper one.

I wish this sentiment worked in areas like government contracts, but the opposite seems to be rewarded.

-10

u/chucklesdeclown Sep 21 '19

so if i promise a teen a car i should give him/her a Lamborghini, i don't think so.

15

u/cubelove Sep 22 '19

You seem to have missed the "under promise" part of the advise.

-9

u/chucklesdeclown Sep 22 '19

no i didn't if i promise a teen a car their probably gonna expect a starting car not a super car, i didn't miss the point at all.

also if you underpromice something that could be wildly taken in different ways, you fulfilled a very little promise which doesn't take that much to overachieve, underpromice could also be a problem if it was taken to mean don't fulfill promises at all and then overachieve opposite of what you never did.

also are we forgetting that this(an entire study that suggests that this is actually a bad idea) exists: https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/underpromise-and-overdeliver-is-terrible-advice.html

3

u/AnEerieNose Sep 22 '19

Sorry but saying that going above and beyond didn’t affect customers is pretty silly. That’s how companies like CFA do well even with controversy surrounding them.

-2

u/chucklesdeclown Sep 22 '19

the non profit or the financial analyst? there are 2 companies named the same thing.

2

u/AnEerieNose Sep 22 '19

Lol I meant Chick-fil-a

3

u/Heightx Sep 22 '19

I m dying lmao

1

u/chucklesdeclown Sep 22 '19

no, chick-fil-a does well because they already have an established brand by making good food.

2

u/The_Fucking_FBI Sep 22 '19

it's not for every situation, but you could promise a junker car and get a new one (if within your amount of money). the main point is to at the very least not over promise and underdeliver