“Motivation is what gets you started. Commitment is what keeps you going.” — Jim Rohn
One key to being a successful leader is to simply do what nobody else will do. This brings an incredible opportunity to excel through completion, and reap the rewards of your diligence to stay committed to the task at hand. Especially at a time in the world when opportunity is all around us. A quick look around and you will easily illustrate people’s tendency toward procrastination, loss of momentum, distraction, and incompletion. By committing yourself to the task at hand and your mission, you will do what nobody else will do, and the rewards will always follow!
I have seen this time and time again over my years in leadership that lack of commitment has become a way of life. It takes the form of procrastination, loss of interest, confusion, and frustration. By remaining at the 90% complete mark, we reap the “benefits” of security, mediocrity, and familiarity.
One of the things I have done to help me stay committed to doing what I say I’m going to do, is by limiting the things I commit to. I know this is easier said than done, especially if you are new to the continuous growth journey. Even simple things like going out to lunch, or meeting with everybody who ask you for your time can be proper commitment killers. And we use them as a crutch to not do what we know we are supposed to be doing!
Here are a few mindset suggestions that have helped me in a time where I am tempted to be pulled in 100 different directions every single day.
1. Always assess the current situation and focus on one thing at a time until it is complete. This sounds like an effective solution – on paper!! There is a pretty good chance that your world is much more complex than that. I get it. However, even with multiple projects and priorities going on at the same time, you can still focus on one thing at a time and then move on. Each new opportunity should be evaluated before you commit to something new. Remember that ‘good’ is the enemy of ‘great’ in your consideration. Does it serve your purpose in life? If so, engage and then move forward into completion!!
Remember this – Often the final stretch consists of unremarkable, monotonous, and tedious tasks. And that is why we fail to commit. Reality is that these final milestones are a lot closer, and a lot easier to attain than they seem. These loose ends rarely take the time or energy we fear they will.
2. Understand the price you pay for incompletion. The process of beginning and working on it requires that you fully engage your commitment and your attention. The deepest recesses of your mind loathe letting go of these commitments. Like an elbow constantly poking into your ribs, your mind will nag you about your uncompleted items. This distraction is often enough to pull you right out of the game when it’s time to take your next step!
3. Enjoy the rewards of completion. This is everybody’s favorite! The world rewards completion. Every purchase of goods or services is immediately and unconsciously evaluated for completion. If you were to go out for dinner, place your order, and then never receive your food, you would complain, refuse to pay, and never want to go there again!!
Here are a couple of key things to remember if you struggle with commitment issues
1. The more committed we are to the success of our Teams, the more committed our Teams are to the organization. Happy and purpose filled Teams are where it’s at. You want to see success, commit to yourself and your Team’s success!
2. The more committed we are as leaders to the mission and vision of our organizations, the more we communicate that vision to the Team and the more likely the Team is to suggest improvements and raise concerns to benefit the organization and perform well in their roles!
3. The more committed we are to our Team, the more committed our Team is to us! They will perform better, and will always go above and beyond to serve each other and your clients.
I want to leave you with this… This isn’t just sound-good, feel-good advice from me – there is a leadership responsibility to be a great steward of your resources. You can’t or won’t do any of these things nearly well enough unless your commitment to your people and their success is HIGH. Are you strongly committed to the right things? Choose wisely!
Ask yourself as you begin the new year, What prize awaits when you push forward for completion? I’m feeling pretty confident when I say that the fruits of your labor will be in abundance!