Not overdosing. OverDelivering.
“Always underpromise and overdeliver”
—Crap advisor
We’ve been wrongly taught that using this scam (some call it tactic) will delight our customers.
In reality, it’s a way to save our asses and don’t lose face when our guesstimates don’t happen accurately… because they’re —guess what— estimates ????♂️.
Underpromising and overdelivering is a…
- Lie to your client
You’re not 100% honest with the delivery. - Lie to yourself
To avoid that uncomfortable moment of saying No, we offer things under, because we know we’ll have more to do. - Devaluation of your work
Doing more than you promise brings your perceived value down —so now you have to overcompensate. - Spoilage of the relationship
“I know I have to expect more from you, for less money.” —Your client.
The larger your clients get, the larger your projects become, the more “overdelivered” work you do. - Chance to increase unwanted scope of work.
Over servicing makes you unprofitable. You’re allocating resources for non-compensated work. - Distraction from your business.
Instead of doing more of your great work for new clients or for your business, you focus on overdelivering. -
Way to drive your prices and profitability down.
You’ll underprice your work. Because you’ll be working extra. Over servicing makes you unprofitable.
Your Way Out
Make a promise. Set the expectations. Share the risk. De-risk the client’s decision. And do the work. No more, no less. That will delight them.
Keep your promise.
Do what you say you’ll do.
And in case you need to hear this: YAFA.
You.
Are.
Fucking.
Amazing.