Yesterday at 7:26pm, while visiting Yellowstone National Park, I watched Old Faithful blast scalding hot water over 100 feet into the clear blue sky. The sign at the Visitors Center gave an estimated eruption time of 7:28pm +/- 10 minutes.
“Old Faithful” had lived up to its name.
The world famous geyser is named for its incredible consistency. You can count on Old Faithful. It erupts about every 90 minutes, allowing park rangers to predict with impressive accuracy when to arrive for the show.
The show itself is impressive, but part of the allure is its consistency.
Would anyone ever refer to you as “Old Faithful?” Dependability—the fourth Element of Trustworthiness—is the quality of doing what you say you’re going to do. In essence, can others count on you?
What can we learn from Old Faithful about dependability? What’s the magic behind its impressive consistency? The answer is just under the surface.
The trick is in the unique hydrothermal conditions that create the geyser in the first place. This hidden system depends on rainfall patterns, groundwater levels, geothermal activity, and the shape of underground cavities.
Though not immediately observable while you wait for the the steaming hole to erupt, these invisible factors all combine to create Old Faithful’s dependability.
The same is true for each of us. Our dependability—or lack thereof—doesn’t rely on our willpower in the moment, the goals we set, or even the promises we make. It relies on the invisible system we operate within.
A solid system of intentional disciplines naturally results in dependable behavior. However, a weak system vulnerable to fleeting whims and outside influences produces inconsistent behavior.
Here are three questions to help you uncover and improve your systems to achieve the dependability you desire:
- How are you actively managing others’ expectations of you?
- What habits & routines are you breaking/building/reinforcing?
- How are you engineering accountability where/when you need it most?
You can develop the dependability of Old Faithful, not by gritting your teeth and trying harder, but by understanding and enhancing your own hidden systems.
Reflection Question: Which question above resonated with you the most? Why?
