Establishing Agreements and Following Through

The importance of reaching specific and measurable agreements.

A dialogue is not complete until intentions are translated into concrete agreements.

It is not enough to end the conversation with a sense of understanding; it is crucial to formalize the results into specific and measurable commitments.

Ambiguity is the enemy of compliance.

For example, instead of agreeing "not to be late again," a specific agreement would be "starting tomorrow, I commit to be in the office by 9:00."

Similarly, in a salary negotiation, the agreement must stipulate the exact percentage of the increase and the precise date on which it will be effective.

This specificity eliminates any possibility of misinterpretation, establishes clear expectations for both parties, and creates a solid foundation on which to build.

Establish a monitoring plan to ensure compliance.

An agreement without a follow-up plan has a high probability of fading into oblivion.

Therefore, an essential part of the dialogue process is to establish how and when commitments will be followed up.

This plan should be proportional to the time frame of the agreement.

For a six-month project, a monthly review might be agreed upon, increasing in frequency as the deadline approaches.

For a two-month commitment, a mid-term follow-up may be sufficient to check progress.

This follow-up process should not be seen as a lack of trust, but as a support and accountability mechanism that allows any deviations or problems to be detected early, facilitating their correction before it is too late.

Closing as a reaffirmation of commitments

The closing phase of a dialogue is much more than a simple farewell; it is the moment to reaffirm agreements and consolidate the relationship.

In this final stage, specific commitments that have been reached should be verbally summarized and the dates or milestones of the follow-up plan should be recalled.

In addition, the closing is an opportunity to thank the other party for their time, openness and willingness to work together to find a solution.

This final act not only seals the agreement formally, but also reinforces the social and professional relationship, demonstrating that both parties can converse rationally and const