Dangerous Conversations - Commitment

“Do or do not, there is no try.”
                                 -- Yoda

The final phase of the Dangerous Conversation is Commitment, wherein the Talent chooses a new perspective and a new way of operating, and commits to enacting the necessary change in his life. This is a much more profound process than simply making a decision to do something new. It doesn’t mean saying, “Tomorrow I will make my relationship with our VP of Operations better.” Rather, it is about engaging in a personal process of transition in the moment, of recognizing how he owns this situation, and realizing that he needs to change himself -- not the other person. Commitment requires that the Talent take a first step towards change right then and there, and that he hold himself accountable for that decision. Commitment is fluid, not static; it moves with the Talent as he needs to change.

The greatest challenge of this final and most difficult phase of coaching is for the Talent to recognize that it isn’t easy. There are many forces in the world trying to push him back into his previous performance patterns. There will inevitably be times when the Talent will be blown completely off course. True commitment is the ability to get back up and keep going, regardless of setbacks. Commitment cannot be rushed into, but once it has been reached, it demonstrates the true power coaching has to deliver sustainable performance improvement.

For more on how to have a Dangerous Conversation, click here to watch Igniting Performance...One Conversation At A Time - a webinar presented by one of my colleagues at Bluepoint Leadership Development.