Page 195 - Fearless Leadership

182 FEARLESS LEADERSHIP

tomer and one another. Global teams developed a motto: “We Live
by Our Commitments.” Whenever there was a breakdown, someone
always asked, “Are we living by our commitments?” With this change
in attitude and behavior, global teams cut time to market significantly
while boosting product quality on all platforms.

To be a fearless leader, you must respect the power of commitments.
The first rule is to keep commitments that you make to yourself because
you said you would. The second rule is to keep commitments you make
to others because you said you would.

Speaking Is an Action

Language shapes reality and words shape our thinking and actions. Every
time you use phrases such as “I’ll try” or “I’ll do my best,” you diminish
the probability of a successful outcome. The definition of the word try is
“to attempt.” When you say “I’ll try” instead of “I will,” your thinking and
behavior adjust to match your words. Try is not a commitment or action:
it is a statement of no accountability with a back door to escape any con-
sequences. When an individual does not deliver on an “I’ll try” promise,
he or she is saying “I said I would try. I did not say I would do it.”
Have you noticed how many words are designed to hedge and avoid
taking accountability? Here are just a few:

• try
• maybe
• perhaps
• sometime
• possibly
• probably
• most likely
• almost certainly
• in all probability
• doubtless

Each hedging word or phrase provides a clean exit and ensures that the
individual can avoid accountability simply by saying “I never committed.”
Now examine how few words and phrases we have to express commitment: