IT AMAZES ME...that current LEADERS don't meet promised EXPECTATIONS...

In my entire career as a senior executive at GE and my 25 years plus years as strategic consultant, I always told my clients that it is critical to NEVER PROMISE what you can't deliver.
Unfortunately, this message has been lost on the current generation of "leader?", in business, in the government and in even in religion.
Surely, the BUSH administration didn't do what they promised and it helped create the MESS we are now in.
But my most disappointing, even amazed, situation is in General Electric. A review of GE's past showed that the company failed to meet the PROMISED EXPECTATION, but learned from its mistakes and since the latter years of BORCH, and the JONES and WELCH eras... GE could be counted on to do "what it said".
IMMELT has now violated this THREE TIMES in the past year.
Last January... he asserted, without hestitation... that GE would make its promised numbers.. but a month later GE failed to meet the promises.
Just a few months ago IMMELT promised that GE would continue to provide the dividends for 2009 and that it would maintain its AAA rating.
Today.. it reduced its dividend 68%... and it is clear that its AAA rating will be reduced.

I am not sure what the CURRENT GENERATION of SO CALLED LEADERS... didn't learn that it vital to DO WHAT YOU SAY and ALWAYS MEET THE EXPECTATIONS THEY CREATED.

WHY HAS THIS HAPPENED?

I am disappointed and amazed and hope that at some point in time that the CURRENT LEADERS??? will recognize that REAL LEADERS CREATE AND MEET REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS...

Bill Rothschild, author of the only comprehensive, objective review of GE's 127 years and the author GEWatcher and StrategyReview blogs...both on www.strategyleader.com