Understanding How Commitment Will Transform Your Business

Quotes

“Commitment means it’s a ‘yes’ for me, and until you say ‘yes,’ you’re really not committed…Until you commit, you’re really not getting anywhere—it’s just a dream. There’s no commitment. There’s no vision cast. There’s no goal setting. There’s no results-oriented until you say ‘yes.’ ” Jim Robinson, (3:05)

“You’ve got to talk about this mission—what we do here every day, the vision, why we are here. And it’s not just to fix a widget, it’s to impact people’s lives. And for me, the purpose is through growing people through education and experience.” Jim Robinson, (8:35)

“You can do one great thing in your life by yourself, but you can do many great things if you get the team.” Jim Robinson, (23:14)

Understanding How Commitment Will Transform Your Business

On this episode of FM Evolution, host Shawn Black sits down with regular guest Jim Robinson, president and CEO of CGP Construction, author, speaker, certified business and life coach, and chairman of the board for a transitional living center in Southern California. With his extensive background in leadership and coaching, Jim always has a ton of knowledge to share on the show. This week, Shawn and Jim’s discussion revolves around commitment—what does it mean, how does it benefit your team, and much more!

What Does Commitment Mean?

While some might look to Merriam-Webster for an in-depth definition of commitment, Jim keeps it simple and easy to remember, as usual. Commitment means saying ‘yes.’

Until you commit, everything is hypothetical and floating around in the ether. Progress is on hold, and everyone involved must wait until the final member of the team buys in. Once you make that commitment, your team can look toward the future and focus on the results.

“Commitment means it’s a ‘yes’ for me, and until you say ‘yes,’ you’re really not committed…Until you commit, you’re really not getting anywhere—it’s just a dream. There’s no commitment. There’s no vision cast. There’s no goal setting. There’s no results-oriented until you say ‘yes.’” Jim Robinson, (3:05)

Commitment’s Role in Employee’s Happiness

According to Jim, one of the primary ways to generate happiness for your team is through challenges. Constant improvement and growth are evergreen sources of joy and happiness, and the best way to encourage growth is to provide challenges for your team.

At CGP, every employee writes down a goal for the week on Monday. On Friday, they revisit their goals and evaluate their success and look for areas where they can continue to improve. Exercises such as this require team members to commit to reaching their goals, ultimately sparking more joy and happiness at their workplace.

Keeping Employees Committed to the Vision and Mission

If you want your team to be committed to the greater vision and mission of the organization, you must talk with them about these things often. At CGP, our purpose is much greater than construction and maintenance—it’s about educating and growing others.

If Jim sees someone make a mistake, it’s critical that he doesn’t get angry and rip them to shreds with insults about the error. Instead, he comes alongside the employee to help them learn from their mistake. When he does this, it encourages them to stay committed to the company and the process, which aids in their growth and development.

“You’ve got to talk about this mission—what we do here every day, the vision, why we are here. And it’s not just to fix a widget, it’s to impact people’s lives. And for me, the purpose is through growing people through education and experience.” Jim Robinson, (8:35)