Leadership: Total Commitment
Leadership: Total Commitment
All leaders have the quality of total commitment.
They are totally committed to their goals.
Without total commitment to a goal, the goal will not be achieved, because any goal of significance will take time and will require you to overcome numerous setbacks, difficulties and defeats along the way.
Only those people who are totally committed to their goals will have the emotional strength to "go the distance" and achieve their final victory.
Most people lack total commitment, they only half commit. Consequently, when they encounter the first batch of criticisms, setbacks and defeats, they start to doubt the wisdom of their original goal. They become hesitant and lose motivation.
That hesitancy makes their next defeat more likely and that may be enough to break their spirits. They give up and retire from the field of play.
Total commitment means that you say to yourself, "No ifs or buts, I WILL ACHIEVE MY GOAL, or die trying!"
Total commitment is a necessary precondition of achieving any valuable goal.
- Total commitment is necessary in sporting success.
- Total commitment is necessary in business.
- Total commitment is necessary in relationships.
Why do people hold back from giving a goal their total commitment?
The three main reasons are:
- They are afraid they might not achieve it, so they like to have a back-up plan.
- They are unwilling to suffer the pain of criticism, setback and defeat and give up at the slightest resistance.
- They are governed by a desire for instant success and they think that if they don't win immediately, then they have failed. They don't realise that success is cumulative. Success is not an event; it is a process.
How can you develop total commitment?
Use these ways to develop your total commitment:
- Decide to! Just say to yourself, "No ifs or buts, I WILL ACHIEVE MY GOAL, or die trying!"
- Stop building back up plans. Burn your boats. Burn your bridges. Develop a do or die attitude.
- Be ready to suffer the pain of multiple criticisms, setbacks, and defeats; but resolve to learn the lessons they contain and NEVER give up.
- Forget the idea of instant success: recognise that you probably won't win immediately.
- Recognise and accept the fact that success is cumulative.
Begin your commitment journey now!
Decide:
- To what are you totally committed?
- To whom are you totally committed?
Definition: total commitment
Total commitment is an attitude in business leadership. A leader picks one clear goal, gives it all time, energy and money, keeps going through every setback, and sticks with a long view until the goal is won. Take away any one of these traits and it is not total commitment.
Show CG4D Definition
- Chooses one clear, valuable goal as top focus
- Gives all time, energy and resources to that goal
- Keeps going through criticism, pain and defeat
- Holds a long-term view until the goal is won
Article Summary
Total commitment is the bold choice to drop the back-up plans, learn from every knock and keep moving until the goal is won; leaders who live this rule lift effort and success in sport, business and personal life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions that frequently get asked about this topic during our training sessions.
What does total commitment mean in leadership?
Why is total commitment vital for achieving goals?
How does fear of failure stop total commitment?
Can setbacks actually help you stay committed?
What first step builds total commitment to a goal?
Why should you avoid back-up plans when aiming high?
Does total commitment apply outside business?
Thought of something that's not been answered? Ask Us Today!
Did You Know: Key Statistics
Gallup’s 2024 State of the Global Workplace report shows teams led by fully committed managers post 20% higher productivity and 23% higher profit than teams with low-commitment leaders. Deloitte’s 2025 Global Human Capital Trends survey finds 78% of firms that grow revenue by over 10% list clear, committed leadership as the top driver of goal success.About the Author: Chris Farmer
Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has many years' experience in training leaders and managers, in both the public and private sectors, to achieve their organisational goals, especially during tough economic times. He is also well aware of the disciplines and problems associated with running a business.
Over the years, Chris has designed and delivered thousands of training programmes and has coached and motivated many management teams, groups and individuals. His training programmes are both structured and clear, designed to help delegates organise their thinking and, wherever necessary, to improve their techniques and skills.
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