Building and Sustaining Commitment

What is commitment? Commitment is dedication to a particular organization, cause, or belief, and a willingness to get involved. People who are committed to an organization or effort truly believe that it is important, and they show up, follow through, and stick with it. Some examples of how people show commitment Get to the program early Make sure people understand what is at stake Take a public stance Stay late

Why is commitment important? The more committed people are, the more influential they will be. Committed people don't give up. People will cooperate more when committed. Committed people will be more effective.

When is a good time to build and sustain commitment? It is always a good time to build commitment! It doesn't occur at just one moment, it grows within people over time.

Sustaining commitment Welcome people into your organization. Be clear about the mission. Model commitment. Give people work to do. Build organizational culture of appreciation and respect. Be patient and appreciate people's commitment. Encourage people to do more. Listen, listen, listen. Support people’s leadership. Celebrate successes.

Tips for building commitment Commitment grows steadily but often slowly. Be patient. Appreciate whatever level of commitment a person can make. You can always encourage people to do more. If they do, great. If they don't, appreciate them for what they can do. People are often yearning for meaning in their lives. When you ask people to commit to an effort, cause, or organization, you are offering them something of high value. Commitment takes time.