The Importance of Commitment for Team Leaders

You cannot be an effective team leader without commitment. There has never been a great leader that was not committed. Commitment is a leadership quality that inspires and attracts people. It shows that the leader has convictions and that the leader believes in the cause. A team will buy into the team leader before they buy into the vision.

The True Nature of Commitment

Commitment is a heart issue. Team leaders cannot wait for everything to be perfect before they are willing to commit themselves. Commitment is needed before success can be experienced. It is often a person’s heart that makes the difference between a good and a great leader. If you really want to make a difference in the life of others you need to look into your heart to see if you are really committed.
Commitment is tested by action. The real test of a team leader’s commitment is action and not mere talk. Words are easy to say but it is much harder to live them out each day. How are you at following through on your commitments?
Commitment opens the door to achievement. Leaders will often face obstacles and opposition. There will be times where their commitment is the only thing that carries them through. Commitment allows team leaders to press on and get up no matter how many times they get knocked down. Nothing worthwhile can be achieved without commitment.

How to Improve Your Commitment

Measure your commitment. There are times when team leaders think they are committed but their actions show otherwise. Take time to look at where you spend your time and how you spend your money. This will give you a clear indication of your true level of commitment.
Know what is worth dying for. What are you willing to die for? What would you not be able to stop doing no matter the consequences? See if your actions match your ideals.
Make your plans public. If you find it difficult to make that first step towards commitment, make your plans public. Making your plans public will help you to be more committed to following them through.

Resource: The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader