At age 18, Balajied was one of the youngest to join Chillibreeze! Credentials and scores are not at the top of the list when we recruit and select candidates. We look at the character, curiosity, and hunger for the job. Balajied stood out as unique. When he’s not coding or designing, you can find him on his YouTube channel.
A Nod of the Head is the First Step to Change
Our parents have always taught us that words should be backed up with actions, just like a thread follows a needle. I never realized how vital a nod of the head is.
My stoy will let you in on a secret. I will tell you one key ingredient to rexperience success. I know, because I practice it and it works.
The Chillibreeze Principle of Commitment
In Chillibreeze, commitment is such a strong word. I remember talking about commitment in the Principle's Session during our Business Technology Team huddles. I thought to myself, “I have never done it this way.“ I looked back at the start of my career in Chillibreeze, and I realized how much progress was lost because I forgot about a commitment I made. Those projects never got completed. Many have become irrelevant.
This realization started when I met with Andy about the Knowledge Articles Project. I was responsible for the project. To execute it, I needed the help of the team. I told Andy progress was going slow. He said, “Are you asking for a commitment from the team?” I was lost! After seeing the blank look on my face, Andy explained the importance of asking and giving a commitment. That eye-opening conversation changed the way I work
every day.
Recently I had the opportunity to work on a new project with Kimbretta, the head of. She asked me to develop a digital voucher app. The shock came when I realized this project was in the pipeline since 2019. It had been forgotten and never completed because of the lack of commitments. So when Kim contacted me to let me know that the team at Zizira still needs this app, I was more intentional in getting this project completed.
A Glimpse of How Simple Commitment Conversations Can Be
Below is how my conversation went with Kimbretta. Notice how we exchange requests and commitments. It’s simple but powerful.
Kim: Hi Balajied, can you help me with this project. The team needs this app to help us work efficiently. May I ask for your commitment if you can assist us and by when?
Balajied: Thank you, Kim, for reaching out to me; I hear you. Can I request you to give me a dedicated team member from Zizira to work along with me on this project?
Kim: Ok, sure.
Balajied: Wait, I have a better approach. I will ask my team to free up some projects from my pipeline; that way, I will be more capable of taking on this project. I will get back to you at 5:00 PM today to confirm whether I can commit to helping you with this project.
After talking to the team, I was ready to go forward, and I scheduled a second meeting with Kim to clarify her requirements.
Balajied: So, what you and your team need is an app that replaces the physical voucher. Zizira needs all entries stored in SharePoint in PDF format or image format. Did I get that right?
Kim: Yes, those are the requirements. So, can you complete it by next Saturday, the 20th?
Balajied: It is a challenging deadline and I cannot commit to that, but can I commit to complete the full project on 25th?
Kim: Yes, 25th works for me.
Once we exchanged our commitments, the project was off to a good start. Setting up weekly check-in meetings allowed us to be more intense toward the progress of the project. Now that we had given our commitments from both parties, we opened up a space for accountability and trust.
Success! Kimbretta and Balajied celebrate the
completion of the eVoucher app.
My Integrity is at Stake
The 25th was the day I had committed to deliver the application to Zizira. The previous day, I sat at my seat, worked on the final touches, and did the test. I called up Kim and told her that I was ready to deliver the app. Upon delivery, a few errors came up. I was able to fix them by the end of the day. The application was delivered on time. It is now in BETA testing.
My story is short and straightforward, but I have a reflection from this conversation:
- I did not jump to a conclusion, taking this project because I was excited to work on it.
- Instead, I took a different approach by asking questions.
- I assed the feasibility of me taking this project before making a commitment.
- I needed additional clarifications. Only after I had full clarity did I commit to the request.
The most important learning is that commitment builds character. It is my word that is on the line. My reputation can grow as I make and keep promises.
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