The Secret of Enthusiasm is Short-Term Commitments
Many leaders weaken decision-making by prioritizing agreement over commitments.
Over-concern about agreement sabotages decision-making. In some situations, people don’t commit until they agree 100%. When that’s true, change your process and expect everyone to commit once decisions are made.
5 decision-making principles:
#1. All decisions are imperfect.
#2. Vote before discussing decisions.
See this post for clarification: How Smart Teams Make Timely Decisions
#3. Explore options and explain your reasoning.
Base decisions on merit, not persuasion. The best salesperson shouldn’t dictate choices.
#4. Collaborate and commit.
Expect everyone to fully commit after decisions are made. Don’t expect everyone to agree 100%. Good feelings don’t indicate good decisions.
#5. Focus on short-term commitments that allow for adaptation.
Year-long commitments don’t work because conditions change, and people learn. Schedule a review date. Plan to learn and adapt. See Principle #1.
Maximize the Power of Short Commitments:
Establish a rhythm of reviewing every 4 to 6 weeks. Or choose a situation-specific review date. For example, pause and evaluate before allocating resources. Ask prearranged questions like…
- What’s working?
- Where are we struggling?
- What are we learning?
- How could we adapt and improve?
- What’s changed? How does that impact our decision?
Reaffirm the path and schedule the next decision point before ending review meeting. Maintain decisions long enough to test effectiveness before reassessing.
Stick with decisions long enough to ensure stability.
Reality check:
Leadership feels like pushing a rope when you don’t call for commitments.
Leaders who refuse to engage until they fully agree don’t belong on the team. Expecting unanimous enthusiasm for every decision is naïve. Those who aren’t committed find fault. Those who are committed find a way.
How might leaders focus more on commitments?
What questions work best during the review stage of decision-making?
Consensus Is Not Commitment – Grolistic
Shorter term commitments. I have found this is key to recruiting volunteers. They know the initial commitment is only 12 weeks, or 6 mos., or 1 year. They will have an opportunity to re-enlist, but they also have the option to quit when their commitment is complete (with no shame). Too many organizations (I lead a church) don’t take time to evaluate programs. They start and continue, even if not being effective. And volunteers can feel trapped. I’m learning to create off-ramps. Volunteers keep their commitments if they know an exit is coming. They also can experiment and try new things, without getting stuck.
BTW I’m forwarding this post to my education committees!
Wonderful application, Pete. It applies in many situations. Feeling trapped is never useful.
What’s the difference?
“I agree to do 20 minutes on the treadmill every day.”
“I am committed to doing 20 minutes on the treadmill every day.”
Does-“I am committed to doing” imply a deeper level of dedication and determination. “I agree” means I have made a decision.
Commitments make life simpler. A commitment is a decision made once.
Short term commitments–When I needed my son’s help on the weekend, if I specified the timeframe ( 2 hours, 90 minutes, etc.) I got the best results.
Thanks for the wonderful application.