Introduction:
What comes to your mind when you hear the word ‘leader’? An officer rallying his troops around the most inhospitable grounds, a captain giving orders to gain control of his storm-tossed ship, a theater director giving directions to her actors to nail the most difficult scene, a project manager boosting her team to finish the project in time and so on and so forth. Leadership includes all this, yes, but it is more than what meets the eye. It involves a commitment in leadership that doesn’t always have to be glamorous and eye-catching.
In this blog, we will explore what this commitment is and how to bring it about. We will also look at the reasons why it is so essential to leadership.
Commitment in Leadership:
You must have come across the phrase ‘leaders eat last’ popularized by Simon Sinek in his book of the same name. This phrase captures the essence of the commitment in leadership we are talking about here.
Commitment means an unwavering dedication and responsibility displayed by a leader towards their organization, team, and goals. It means making sure that you put in the hard work and practice the perseverance required to overcome obstacles and achieve success for your team. A committed leader will not seek personal glory before the welfare of her team, and will always put the team first. This is what it means for leaders to eat last, that they make sure that everyone else has eaten before they do.
A prime example of commitment in leadership could be found in the figure of MS Dhoni, who led the Indian cricket team to famous World Cup wins in 2007 and 2011. Each time, after winning the trophy, he left the center stage and let his team celebrate the win while he stood in the corner, happy. And after every major loss, he was the first to take the blame and make himself accountable for the team’s poor performance. This is how a committed leader acts, leading his team to success and, if they fall short, being accountable for it.
Also Read: Free Rein Leadership – Meaning, Characteristics, Importance, Benefits and More
Why Commitment in Leadership is Important:
Builds a bridge of trust:
Commitment in leadership earns the trust and loyalty of the team. Each member is more readily willing to work with dedication for a leader who is committed to the project. In an environment of trust, team members are more likely to function with cohesion.
Enhances employee engagement:
A committed leader creates an environment where employees are more welcome to engage with the leader, discussing potential problems and offering creative solutions. Since a committed leader hears what employees have to say, their confidence never dips.
Sets a positive example:
Commitment in leadership is infectious. A team whose leader shows a high level of commitment constantly has a positive example to follow. This boosts the morale of the team members, inspiring them to be more responsible for the organization they work in.
Nurtures Resilience:
In times of hardship, committed leaders become a source of strength for their team. Their commitment instills resilience in the team members, thus helping them weather those tough periods that every organization has to face.
Drives Growth and Success:
A committed leader is a great asset to any organization. Even if your leader is a bit light on skills, but shows commitment to the responsibilities he is assigned, that commitment makes up for a lot of these shortcomings. The determination to overcome hurdles with a commitment to the organization’s vision can help propel the organization to growth and success.
Also Read: 5 Ways to Master Leadership Skills as a Manager
Tips to Develop and Sustain Commitment in Leadership:
Commitment in leadership cannot be expected to develop overnight. It requires effort in the right direction and a healthy amount of self-awareness on the part of a leader. Here are some of the best tips to develop and sustain commitment in leadership:
Alignment with Organizational values:
If there is an alignment between your values as a leader and the organizational values, commitment is bound to grow naturally. If the project that a leader is overseeing has value to her, then a level of commitment will definitely be exhibited in the completion of that project.
Self-reflection:
Leaders must always have the habit of self-reflection. They should regularly reflect on their values and goals. Understanding their own motivations will help them deepen their commitment to leading their team.
Empower team members:
If you want to be a committed leader, empower your team members by delegating responsibilities and trusting them with important decisions. This will also make your team members feel valued, which is great for team spirit.
Continuous learning and growth:
If you want to develop commitment in leadership, you must be willing to invest in your personal and professional growth, always staying one step ahead on the industry trends. Committed leaders are lifelong learners and they encourage growth in their teams as well.
Seek and provide feedback:
Leaders who seek feedback from their team show a willingness to learn and improve, thus gaining the trust of their team. Once you have their trust, you can also provide feedback to each of your team members, both through official and informal channels. This shows that you are committed to the team you are leading.
Learn With DT Evolve:
Good committed leadership requires a deeper understanding of emotional intelligence. If you are a leader and want to take your leadership game to the next level, DT Evolve has a course for you. This course will help you to be emotionally intelligent, making you acknowledge and appreciate the emotions of self and others. This would help you become a better performer at work and also be a better manager to your team. Here’s the link to the course, Leading with Emotional Intelligence.
Conclusion:
In this blog, we explored the concept of commitment in leadership by reflecting on what leadership is and how to be a committed leader with the help of an example. We then explored the importance of commitment in leadership and discussed each of its points briefly. Lastly we talked about some tips to develop and sustain commitment in leadership that would help any potential leader in professional life.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Commitment in leadership helps to build trust in the team, sets up a positive example, nurtures resilience and drives growth and success.
Commitment is important especially during times when the going gets tough, and there are a million reasons to stop and discard your vision of success. Only through commitment can the fruits of success be expected.
Commitment in leadership can be developed by aligning yourself with company values, self-reflection, empowering team members, continuing to learn and grow while also seeking feedback.
In times of hardship, committed leaders become a source of strength for their team. Their commitment inspires resilience in the team members, thus helping them weather those tough periods that every organization has to face.
Good leaders make sure that they act ethically both in their personal and professional engagement with the world. People are more likely to follow the leader who has an ethical vision and sticks to it.
Try to empower your team members, and build a culture where growth comes naturally. Always lead from the back, working behind the team and pushing them forward.
A committed leader must have a habit of self-reflection. Understanding their own motivations will help them deepen their commitment to leading their team.
Commitment means an unwavering dedication and responsibility displayed by a leader towards their organization, team, and goals. It also means making sure that you put in the hard work and practice the perseverance required to overcome obstacles and achieve success for your te