Commitment
Proactive Coaching LLC Newsletter #44
http://www.proactivecoaching.info
Facebook – Proactive Coaching LLC
Bruce Brown – Bruce@proactivecoaching.info
Convenient, Compliant, Conditional or Full Commitment?
This information is taken from our new book, Proactive Leadership – Empowering Team Leaders, only available on our website.
Commitment is usually one of the things that successful teams attribute to their success. Lack of commitment is usually one of the things identified in teams that fail.
Convenient – This person will do the job when I feel good or feel like doing it. They will often start toward a goal but quit if it gets too difficult. These people are comfortable contributing to an apathetic culture.
Compliant – This person will do the job if it is required for them to be part of the team. They will do what is asked and little more. Compliance is watered down commitment and they will be happy in a culture that is happy with being good (not great).
Conditional Commitment – This person is selfish and will do the job if it benefits their personal agenda. They filter everything through what they are personally gaining. They will be committed as long as they get their own way, (their points, getting to play the position they want, their playing time, their attention and their goals). They will be on board as long as things are going well and the team is winning. They will demonstrate committed behaviors as long as it doesn’t get to difficult or they are expected to practice too hard. They will turn on the team when things get tough. You cannot count on them and unless they change and buy in they are capable of damaging even the strongest team culture. Do not sacrifice your team covenants for these selfish individuals regardless of how talented they are.
Committed – This person will do whatever is needed whenever it is needed. They live the team’s core covenants with a full heart. They don’t care if it requires extra effort, time, energy or personal sacrifice, they will pay the price. They don’t need to talk about it; you’ll be able to see it in their actions. They will not only do it, they’ll embrace it. They are compelled and focused. They go all out all the time. They are all in. They are committed. These people are the foundation on which great team cultures are built.
Commitment opens the door to reaching potential for individuals and teams. Full commitment reduces your options and keeps you on a consistent, predictable path. There will be tough times where commitment is the only thing carrying you forward. It provides the burning desire to keep focused on your core covenants and goals. Commitment allows people to do the tough jobs, to keep moving forward, to work long hours. It allows a team to persevere through difficult times with strength and resiliency.
It is essential in the best team cultures that leadership demonstrates full and unconditional commitment. Before people buy into the team culture they must buy into the leader(s). A leaders commitment will be tested by their actions, not their talk. The people you want to follow you will hear what you say but they will believe what you do. True commitment demonstrated in a leader's actions inspires and attracts people to a cause bigger than themselves. Strong leaders have a level of commitment that cannot be questioned.
Video Recommendation
During this year's bowl season, one of the best games was Michigan State vs. Georgia. You might have heard Mike Trico during the game talk about the speech Kirk Cousins gave at the Big Ten Media Day. We saw this late this summer and have shown it to many young student athletes as he does a great job talking about the privilege of playing athletics and the responsibility that comes with that privilege. Take a look and see if you think your players could benefit from this 7 minute clip.
Dean
M.Ed (Coaching)
Ch.P.C. (Chartered Professional Coach)
Game Intelligence Training
"Great education depends on great teaching."