If you asked a stranger to follow you around for a month and then asked them, “What am I really committed to?” what would they say? Don’t ask them to report what you say you’re committed to but what you’re actually committed to as evidenced by the results. Many leaders tell themselves they’re committed to one thing when the truth is they’re committed to something entirely different according to the results. One thing all great leaders do is tell themselves the truth. They especially tell themselves the truth about what they are actually committed to. Once you tell yourself the truth or let that objective stranger tell you the truth, then you’re free change your commitments or recommit.
When you’re ready, here are 15 commitments to choose from that great leaders are reliably committed to:
- To take radical responsibility and end blame and criticism.
- To be curious and learn; stop trying to prove you’re always right.
- To feel; engage the heart and emotional intelligence, not just the head. Analytics and data are great, and they’re not enough.
- To reveal and stop concealing. Be authentic, transparent and radically honest. Stop manipulating others by withholding the truth.
- To talk directly to people and not about them. Stop gossiping.
- To keep agreements. If you said you’ll meet for lunch at noon, be there at noon and quit making excuses.
- To give (at least) five authentic, genuine, simple appreciations a day and stop acting like you’re so entitled.
- To do only what you are exceptionally great at and what you love. Stop doing anything you’re only excellent at.
- To treat work and life more like play. Stop taking yourself and your life so seriously.
- To argue for the opposite of your beliefs. Make a compelling case that is believable to you that the opposite of your opinion is just as true as your opinion. Stop being so convinced you are right all the time.
- To get your approval and security from something other than people, your job and your wealth. When you can source approval and security from the inside the game is over and real life begins.
- To live as though you have enough and not always wanting more. This includes enough time, money, power, love and freedom.
- To see all opposition as ultimately being for you. It’s here to strengthen you, change you, expand you and help you grow up.
- To create outcomes that are good for everyone involved. Drop win/lose. It’s a fun game, but it’s so 1950’s.
- To be the resolution. Stop complaining and thinking someone else is going to create the change. Step up and be what it is you want to see in the world.
