Increasing team commitment begins with understanding how commitment is developed and maintained.
The word commitment means:
*a promise to do or give something
*a promise to be loyal to someone or something
*the attitude of someone who works very hard to do or support something
There are many things that will try to interfere with the our commitments; frustration, boredom, weariness, doubt, opportunities, distractions, etc.
It is important to understand that commitment is based on ones own word and determination.
The danger people tend to fall into is associating their commitment with their emotions.
“If I feel like it, I will follow through.”
Below are four key principles that John Maxwell shares in his book, 17 Essential Qualities Of A Team Player, about team commitment.
If team commitment is going to rise every member needs to grasp these four principles.
1. Team Commitment Usually Is Discovered In The Midst Of Adversity
When difficulty hits we either feel one of two ways:
I want to quit.
I want to complete this.
*Struggles strengthen your resolve.
*Adversity will drive you away or press you closer to the mission.
The bible talks about the process and results of adversity:
James 1:2-4 (NIV) 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
What are trials of many kinds? Adversities.
What is perseverance? Commitment.
What are the results? Maturity (Growth).
2. Team Commitment Doesn’t Depend On Gifts Or Abilities
It’s dangerous to assume that it is easier for gifted people to be committed because of their talent.
How many less talented people who have worked hard have succeeded?
How many extremely talented people have squandered their potential b/c they never did anything?
We don’t need more strength or more ability or greater opportunity. What we need to use is what we have.
– Basil Walsh
What has been entrusted to you? Start with that. Work with what you have and believe that greater things will take place!
3. Team Commitment Comes As A Result Of Choice, Not Conditions
There is a great example about the power of our decisions found in Luke 5.
Luke 5:1-3 (NIV) One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
Jesus asked Peter to push his boat (that he had docked) further out into the water.
Could Peter have said no?
If he had said no, could Jesus have got into another boat? Remember, there were TWO boats at the shore.
Let’s move on…
Luke 5:4-6 (NIV) 4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”5Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.
After using the boat Jesus told Peter to go out into deeper water and put down the same nets that he had just washed from using all night.
REMEMBER, Peter had fished all night and caught nothing!
Would it have been easy for Peter to allow his condition to influence his decisions? Yes! He was possibly tired, frustrated, and ready to dock the boat.
Peter’s chose wisely. Hischoices influenced his conditions… When Peter decided to go back into the water after fishing all night, using the same nets he had just finished washing he caught so many fish that his nets started breaking!(VS. 6)
Rather than allowing conditions to influence your choices, allow your choices to influence your conditions.
4. Team Commitment Lasts When It’s Based On Values
A commitment to something you believe in is a commitment that is easier to keep.
Make commitments based on what you value.
Challenge:
Make a list of your of your commitments and your values.
Do you have commitments that are not related to your most important values?
Sometimes the going gets tough, understanding and applying the principles that surround team commitment will help every person to push forward!
What struggles have you faced that have challenged your level of commitment? Write your response in the comments below.
The principles shared in this post were taken from the book, The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player: Becoming the Kind of Person Every Team Wants
BTW, I created teacher notes and a fill in the blank sheet based on this post to make it easier for you to share with your team!
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God bless you.
Evan Doyle
