Foundational Leadership

Part IICommitment

What is leadership? Leadership is influence

What is the foundation of leadership? Character

Define Character Who you are when no one else is looking

Have you taken the Character Challenge?

Commitment is something that seems to be quickly fading from the fabric of our society.

What is a commitment? Once a commitment is

made is the person bound to the commitment? If so, how? If not, how?

What is commitment?

“Keeping a commitment or a promise is a major deposit; breaking one is a major withdrawal.”

Figure out what you want and what is important to you and commit to it. Commit to being the best. Do not stretch yourself too thin. Do not over commit.

“The quality of a man’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.”

Vincent Lombardi

Can people trust your commitment? “The honesty of a man’s heart, the depth of

his character, is shown by how he keeps his word.” – 7 Promises of a Promise Keeper.

“Our word is our bond – when men don’t hold to a high value of truth, they don’t place a high value on their word, either.”

People will not follow you unless you are committed. Commitment involves sacrifice.◦ “It is not fair to ask of others what you are not

willing to do yourself.” - Eleanor Roosevelt

◦ “Men are alike in their promises. It is only in their deeds that they differ.”

- Moliere

Think about something in your life that you want or need to do, but have been unable to do. Do not think about life goals but something smaller and more manageable to achieve in a 30 day period. The challenge is to not only choose something but to commit to working on or accomplishing the task by finals week of this year. It is best to choose something that requires either daily discipline or a Mon.- Fri. discipline. Once a week things are ok but over a relatively small period of time like we are working with it is less effective. The key to this exercise is realizing something that you want to do. The second step is to make the commitment for a 30 day period and the final step is to discipline yourself to follow through. You can practice discipline and therefore you can get better in your discipline. No one is a lost cause. This will make you a better person and ultimately a better leader. Remember is you cannot lead yourself, then you will never be able to lead others.