In the wake of last week’s Climate Summit there is much discussion about the failure of world leaders to commit to what is needed to reduce – or at least stabilise – temperature rises and carbon emissions. But what does it mean to truly commit – to pledge ourselves – to our own and others’ success?
As leaders when we are committed to our own – and to each others’ – success there is a feeling of being in it together. We are up to something together. There is a shared vision of the future that we are leading for together, and an awareness of where our strengths are and indeed our areas of vulnerability – both areas where we may need to help each other to succeed. There is also a shared understanding of possible pitfalls along the way, places where we may stumble and fail, as well as a very clear picture of what success will look like and feel like when we have achieved our vision, reached our targets and built stronger relationships with each other. There may also be times when we are called upon to re-new our pledge to each other, to re-commit, to what it is we set out to create and to achieve. Commitment is very much a choice, and there will be times when we have to re-commit to our vision, not only for our own sakes but also for the real benefit and support of others.
Practise
As we draw to the end of the year it is a great time to reflect on your commitments to yourself and to others; those people with whom you have been up to something. How have you acknowledged your and their successes? And of course thinking ahead … what and who are you going to commit to in 2010?
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