Due to variances in actual processes and in cultural understanding, the commitment of the parties to an agreement often takes on different physical forms. The parties need to explain in detail the actions that will manifest this commitment.. Absent this detailed articulation of commitment, parties may assume that the other party’s actions have betrayed the agreement, when in fact there has been simply a failure to communicate each party’s perception of commitment accurately.
Example: Living partners agree to both pitch in around the house. Partner 1’s vision of helping around the house is to clean her own dishes as she uses them. Partner 2, however, is under the impression that they will each take turn doing the dishes according to an assigned schedule.
What happens when Partner 1 does her own dishes for a few days in a row, yet Partner 2’s still sit in the sink? Neither partner has actually betrayed the agreement, but to each it appears that the other has.
The parties to an agreement need to be explicit about which actions they will take to carry out the commitments they have made to each other.