John 2:9/10 - Under Promise And Over Deliver

John 2: 9-10
When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made to wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom.  And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior.  You have kept the good wine until now!

Under Promise Over Deliver

There are a lot of lessons that I think we can learn from these two verses, but I am going to focus on leadership.  Notice that the master said everyone else brings out the good wine first.  I think we still live in a world today like this.  We always see the best first.  We watch hype on television, read hype in newspapers and online.  What are we taught to do?  That’s right, make a good first impression.  If we are looking for a job, it’s all about a good interview.  However, this mindset does have problems.  For example, you watch a commercial and buy what they are trying to sell, just to find out that it does not work as well as the commercial claimed.  Or, we hire someone according to what they said during the interview, but discovered they were not quite what they sold us on during the interview.  I guess, we live in a “over promise and under deliver” world.  However, I believe that Jesus demonstrated to do your absolute best at all times.  Or perhaps even “under promise and over deliver.”  

The Best Is Yet To Come - It's All About Hope

As a leader, I believe that it is important to do our best at ALL times.  A leader also needs to train his or her followers that the best is yet to come as well.  When an employee, student, or anyone believes things are going to get better than they currently are, they have hope.  And when they have hope, you’ll have productive followers.  Therefore, you need to find ways to train your followers to look forward for better things.  This may be promotions, raises, or for a student it may be completing the class or program.    When you help them look forward to things and help them see the light at the end of a tunnel; this will help them make it through the gray or difficult times through their life.  In return, you will have happier employees, students, or whatever type of follower that you have.  If you’re a christian, we can keep our eyes focused on Jesus and heaven.  This has certainly made my life easier to cope with.  I truly believe the best is yet to come for the followers of Jesus.  

Lessons Learned
1. We are accustom to the best first, over promise and under deliver.  However, to be a better leader save the best for last, under promise and over deliver.
2. Teach your followers to look forward for better things to come, help them see the light at the end of the tunnel.