By: Undre Griggs, Jr
The ability to commit to a task and follow it through to completion is one of the more underestimated traits of an effective leader. A strong commitment is necessary because projects rarely go as planned; and that can be discouraging to the leader and the entire team. Quitting when things become difficult is the reason many are unable to succeed; it is why many businesses fail within the first year and why the majority of people do not keep their New Year’s resolution. An effective leader will exhibit discipline and integrity when they commit to keeping their word, and this enables the leader to hold the entire organization to the same standard.
Numbers 30:2 (NIV): When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.
Strong commitment is also necessary for anyone to grow in their craft. The greatest athletes must commit to practice daily, forgo unhealthy foods, and miss out on a great deal of time with their friends and family. They do this because they know in order to perform at the highest level, they must commit to their craft completely and fully. Like them, we do not have the ability to go halfway and succeed; we must commit our mind, body, and soul to success and growth.
2 Peter 1:5-7 (ESV): For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
Understanding the commitment necessary to be successful, and then committing in that manner is a strong sign someone believes in the mission. A belief in the mission is essential for a leader and their team to be effective.
Luke 9:62 (NKJV): But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Reason being, if we are double-minded and second guessing every decision, it is unlikely we will be able to meet expectations. We will either not have the task completed or it will be completed in a subpar manner. That is why it is important to remember a strong commitment is not only a willingness to keep our word, but to go the extra mile for the good of the mission; a trait any effective leader is sure to have.
RSS Feed