Commitment versus Involvement
In my last post I revealed what chocolate and peanut butter have to do with delivering projects on schedule. Today I want to share some advice that may sound similar to topics you have experience with. However, if you implement my advice today, you have the opportunity to transform a current project. But wait, there’s more. You will have also discovered a new skill that can be applied to any area of your work life to produce significantly better results.
Tip 7 – Make a Commitment to On-Time Delivery
Obviously, stating a commitment is separate and different from making a commitment. Commitment is a word that we hear a lot, but it can mean many different things depending on the context. What I would ask is that as you read the rest of this post, do your best to set aside what you already know, believe, or have experienced related to the concept of commitment.
So what do I mean by making a commitment to on-time delivery? There are two parts:
- Making a choice and making a mental shift that you are committed to having your project be completed on time. This act alone will sharpen your focus. You will instantly be able to make better decisions between critical things to do versus very good things to do. For a project to be on-time, decisions have to be made that lead the project to come in on-time.
- Letting others known of your commitment. You don’t have to stand up and make a formal proclamation of such. In fact, I would discourage that approach in most situations. What I would suggest instead is lettings others know through your actions and informal conversations. As others understand your commitment and importance of bringing the project in on-time, most will jump on board to your winning team, which your commitment helps create.
What commitment is not
- Commitment is not about trying hard, or doing your part. Commitment is about doing what it takes to produce the result. In this case, the result is on-time delivery.
- Commitment is not about being worried or frantic. If you are focused on the objective at hand, you don’t have time for worrying. Postpone that until after the project is complete.
- You cannot make others be committed. Don’t get mad if others don’t have your same level of commitment as you do. Some will be committed and others will not. Either way, the only thing that matters is your commitment level. You may need to ask a lot from others in support of your commitment to on-time delivery, but don’t ask for their commitment.
“Bacon and eggs requires involvement from the chicken and commitment from the pig.”
Continue on to Delivering Projects on Schedule – Part 8, in which I will reveal a tip that requires surprising little skill, but a fair amount of guts to make work.
