The Impact of Commitment

10/28/16 • 33 min

We all grew up and learned lessons from our childhood. In fact we’re still learning lessons now (yet in both cases, the level of actual value varies). Whatever we learned to survive, to create, to support, to be seen...or not directly relates to our definition of commitment. It directly impacts how we do commitment. There are three facets to commitment that directly relate to business that we talk about on this program:

1. The definition of commitment; 2. Aesop’s fable The Crow and the Pitcher; 3. Commitment is a character strength.

Starting the conversation...

When is the right time to keep the boundary of commitment?
When do we question our understanding of commitment?
Whatever we learned to survive, to create, to support, to be seen...or not directly relates to our definition of commitment. It directly impacts how we do commitment.

Host: Jessica Dewell

What you will hear:

Commitment is a mindset.

The definition of commitment: promise to do something, loyalty, and/or attitude.

What we expect of ourself and others comes from our personal experience.

Resistance can crop up when asked to commit.

The ways commitment problems show up and what we can do.

What does commitment mean to you? A barometer to check in.

Aesop's Fable: The Crow and the Pitcher

Try something and wait to see results.

Bring in the 3 definitions of commitment into a single idea.

Approaches building skills.

Stick to the plan until information is available to evaluate.

Every action moves us toward or away from our goal.

Planning is part of having our commitment.

Regardless of skills and work style - having a common understanding of the goal to work from.

Level of commitment shows through in action and word.

Commitment is a character trait.

Find the story to find out what’s been tried and try something different.

Under promise and over deliver ... has changed and is different today.

“The only limit to your impact is your imagination and commitment" - Tony Robins

Disconnect in priorities. Right project, wrong communication.

Additional skills that contribute to commitment: loyalty, courtesy, respect, approachability, coach-ability.

Notable & Quotable

Jessica Dewell: We experience positive feelings when we add value and actively contribute to something bigger than ourselves.

Jessica Dewell: Its in our unique experiences that give our perspectives on life.

Jessica Dewell: How we define commitment relates to how we show up.

Jessica Dewell: We know we can believe in someone when they do what they say they will.

Jessica Dewell: Is where we are going really where we want to end?

Jessica Dewell: Stick with it long enough to see a result.

Resources

Tags: commitment, promise, loyalty, quality, attitude, work ethic, problem solving, perspective, tenacity, results, uncomfortable, unknown, evaluate, data, planning, prioritize, communication, shared meaning, common ground, imagination, challenge, questionability, loyalty, courtesy, respect, approachability, coach-ability

1. The definition of commitment; 2. Aesop’s fable The Crow and the Pitcher; 3. Commitment is a character strength.

Starting the conversation...

When is the right time to keep the boundary of commitment?
When do we question our understanding of commitment?
Whatever we learned to survive, to create, to support, to be seen...or not directly relates to our definition of commitment. It directly impacts how we do commitment.

Host: Jessica Dewell

What you will hear:

Commitment is a mindset.

The definition of commitment: promise to do something, loyalty, and/or attitude.

What we expect of ourself and others comes from our personal experience.

Resistance can crop up when asked to commit.

The ways commitment problems show up and what we can do.

What does commitment mean to you? A barometer to check in.

Aesop's Fable: The Crow and the Pitcher

Try something and wait to see results.

Bring in the 3 definitions of commitment into a single idea.

Approaches building skills.

Stick to the plan until information is available to evaluate.

Every action moves us toward or away from our goal.

Planning is part of having our commitment.

Regardless of skills and work style - having a common understanding of the goal to work from.

Level of commitment shows through in action and word.

Commitment is a character trait.

Find the story to find out what’s been tried and try something different.

Under promise and over deliver ... has changed and is different today.

“The only limit to your impact is your imagination and commitment" - Tony Robins

Disconnect in priorities. Right project, wrong communication.

Additional skills that contribute to commitment: loyalty, courtesy, respect, approachability, coach-ability.

Notable & Quotable

Jessica Dewell: We experience positive feelings when we add value and actively contribute to something bigger than ourselves.

Jessica Dewell: Its in our unique experiences that give our perspectives on life.

Jessica Dewell: How we define commitment relates to how we show up.

Jessica Dewell: We know we can believe in someone when they do what they say they will.

Jessica Dewell: Is where we are going really where we want to end?

Jessica Dewell: Stick with it long enough to see a result.

Resources

Previous Episode

Three Truths about Life & Waffle Street

As we find and develop our greatest strengths, we get into a groove. We figure out how to make the most of what we are good at and rise...rise above what we thought possible. Then something crazy happens. We hit a snag - a big snag, and go to the bottom. In fact we surpass bottom and end up at rock bottom. What then? Find out in this conversation.

Starting the conversation...

What you will hear:

Actions from love are intentional.

Our intention matters.

"You know when you are over something when you have the opportunity to run over someone and don't." -Anonymous

Truth 1: Even when we’re the scapegoat, we never have to do that to another person.

Our level of care shows up in many places.

The buck stops with leaders. That makes us accountable for the outcome. We are responsible for results.

A leader is as good as the team, and they remove obstacles.

Use our networks - develop them too.

Truth 2: Problem solving is immediately useful ... everywhere.

Learn and practice steps of problem solving to do what needs to be done.

Problem solving adds value.

Do it yourself, at least try. What can I do here?

Steps to solve problems.

Knowledge transfers are tough.

Truth 3: Until we do something we don’t know if we really like it or just holding up a limiting belief.

Fear holds us back.

“I try to find hope in struggle and resistance in small places as much as I can.” Danny Glover

Stay open.

Notable & Quotable

Tanya Bourque: It's valuable to be there for another person, and it's overlooked.

Jessica Dewell: I can better recognize the love some else is giving the world.

Tanya Bourque: Forgive other people when they have done harm to us.

Jessica Dewell: They might be good people making the wrong decisions.

Jessica Dewell: There are good leadership skills, but someone has to be out front - leading the line.

Tanya Bourque: Leaders tend to be generalists.

Jessica Dewell: Communication loops matter.

Jessica Dewell: What does this person need to know to do they best they can and the best I see in them?

Tanya Bourque: Skills that are transferrable add value.

Jessica Dewell: The leader of an organization decides the culture and the skills necessary to add to the culture.

Tanya Bourque: Assumptions come at a cost.

Resources

Full list: 11 Truths, by Jessica Dewell

When we have to convince ourselves it probably isn’t right
Even when we’re the scapegoat, we never have to do that to another person
Doing whatever it takes to hold up responsibilities is useful
The edge of comfort is where the magic happens
Problem solving is immediately useful ... everywhere
Get up when knocked down - something better is waiting
Our values must align with the business we work for
As soon as we recognize the gravy train, it’s time to get off
Our partners matter in life
True mentors are not always squeaky clean - they made mistakes too.
Until we do something we don’t know if we really like it or just holding up a limiting belief

Tags: action, love, intention, problem solving, usefulness, limiting beliefs, tact, network, transparency, culture, leaders, leadership, responsibility, accountability, pressure, burnout, curious, education, support, fear, assumptions

Next Episode

Conflict Kills Productivity (& Relationships)

There are times we find ourselves watching or smack in the middle of a disagreement. What happens when everyone is against us? That’s what we’re going to dig into today. It’s easy to stand on the outside and be supportive, provide guidance, even facilitate...but when the tables are turned...we might be the one that is right and everyone else is wrong. Or, we might be right and so is everyone else. It takes self awareness to recognize that there is more than one path to solve a problem and get to the end goal. It takes willingness to be curious to figure out if there is a way that supports everyone’s perspective ... or build consensus on a combined idea that might not make everyone happy yet is clearly what’s necessary for the situation.

Starting the conversation...

What do you do when no one else agrees with you?

It’s easy to stand on the outside and be supportive, provide guidance, even facilitate...but when the tables are turned...we might be the one that is right and everyone else is wrong. Or, we might be right and so is everyone else. It takes self awareness to recognize that there is more than one path to solve a problem and get to the end goal.

Host: Jessica Dewell

What you will hear:

What we do when people don’t agree with us.

What, how, where...avoid WHY. (Why creates defensiveness.)

Go forward when no one else is with us.

Do we ask for help - even if different thinkers? ...Sometimes.

When like-ability trumps productivity.

When the leader is the bottleneck - because leaders don’t want to develop.

HBR article summary: Competent Jerks and Loveable Fools.

Approachability and pressure.

Teams don’t have one weak link.

Communication (or lack of) patterns what the team will talk about.

The more open, and real, communication is within a group, increases value of each person.

Albert Einstein: “I speak to everyone the same way, whether he is the garbage man or the president of the university.”

Leaders stop and pause before responding.

It’s hard speak up (and the excuses we tell ourselves).

When we don’t communicate (in agreement and disagreement), burnout is the result.

We have to have courage to have a voice that is different that everyone else.

Notable & Quotable

Jessica Dewell: The purpose of being on a team..is BEING on the team. We can still disagree.

Jessica Dewell: The wrong time is the exact right time to avoid a bigger mistake down the road.

Jessica Dewell: Every link in a chain has a strong point in a weak point.

Jessica Dewell: Speak up for the best in others.

Jessica Dewell: Part of productivity, sometimes what needs to be said...needs to be said.

Jessica Dewell: There is a when and a how to say what needs to be said.

Resources

Halt and Catch Fire

Competent Jerks and Loveable Fools

Is silence killing your company?

Tags: conflict, resolution, disagreement, defensiveness, relationships, weak link, conflict resolution, team building, communication, leader, development, strengths, weaknesses, skills, achievement, respect, emotion management, agreeableness, productivity, courage