There is a whole range of responses you can get when asking another for a commitment. I am not speaking about what they say, I am speaking about the mood in which the commitment is delivered, but you have to listen for that.

Moods and Attitudes can vary from very low on the scale as in annoyance or obligation, or lower, all the way up to challenge, adventure, and empowerment.

To have powerful commitments that you can count on, you need to listen for what’s driving that promise behind the words you want to hear. The most powerful commitments are when there is no gap between the speaker, the speaker’s promise, and their actions. Their experience is one of “I am that I will…”, and you know they will do everything in their power to fulfill that.

What’s driving that Commitment or Promise? is a post from: Gregory Neil Associates

There are a variety of relationships we can have to our word. Some people think it’s a complete pain to give their word, and you can hear and see that in their behavior. And some people feel empowered and supported by it.

Responses range from obligation, annoyance, or worse, to seeing it as a welcome challenge. The key is listening and coaching people where they are so they can take the next step.

Your Relationship To Your Word is a post from: Gregory Neil Associates

If you’re one of those people in a senior position in your company, you made it to that senior position for a reason. And it’s likely that from time to time, you may wonder why you bother to work so hard. Here are some things people in your position have shared with me:

It doesn’t work to do it for the benefits, nor for power or position over others. The best way to play it is full out, nothing held back — it’s actually more fun that way.

It requires you to be bigger than anything that shows up; bigger than any circumstances; bigger than any of your own personal issues or someone else’s; bigger than any power struggles and ego trips.

It takes a great deal of courage and faith to consistently generate an attitude of “can do” in the face of “no you can’t circumstances.”

And it takes something spectacular to be able to do all this on a daily basis.

Two choices, to be bigger, or not – the choice is yours to make every day.
Why should I you ask? For the very reason that you do have this choice, and you know the choices you make define who you are, and you are willing to wrestle with this every single day.

Leadership and the “What About Me” (WAM) Syndrome is a post from: Gregory Neil Associates

One thing we all have is a personality, and each of our personalities colors our own expressions and view of life. While the impact of that is typically felt by everyone in the room, the distinctions thereof go largely unexamined.

Here are four common types to play with.

The Hero has a very strong personality, really likes being the boss, needs to be the one in charge. Very hands on, loves to get on the job and get work done – whatever it is, he can get it done. Has lots of energy, deals well with stress, conflict, deadlines, etc. Can’t coach and manage others that are NOT like himself – can’t figure out why they just don’t go get it done like he does. (What’s their problem?)

The Performer, the master doer, figures out the fastest way to get anything done,  loves to work, deals well with challenges,  also large capacity for stress. Will likely just go get something done before he delegates and “waits” for someone else. Creates a culture of people who are always waiting for him to get the big jobs, the important jobs, the urgent jobs done.

The Worrier always sees the cup half empty, likes to make sure all the bases are covered before deciding anything. Analysis paralysis, fear based behavior, likes to think everything through, excessive planning before execution.

The Nice Guy is non confrontational, cup is always half full, no worries, life is always great. Can’t handle the tough sale, the big sale, moves away from anything stressful, has a hard time managing people when you need to make large requests, or handle the tough.

Lifting the Veils… is a post from: Gregory Neil Associates

Covey’s new book plugs the incredible value of Trust. Check it out.

We don’t realize the incredible value of Trust, possibly because we’re not focusing on the nuances of what makes work happen faster, and what slows it down. When work is happening consistently in high gear, Trust is always there.

I feel his book breaks down in helping us to simply understand how to produce Trust. Trust is a product of people giving and keeping their word…simple, but not easy.

The Speed of Trust is a post from: Gregory Neil Associates

Power in the context of business is the ability to make work happen, to move a project from inception to completion. Someone’s consistent ability to make work happen demonstrates being powerful. Powerful leadership is the fact of causing it around you through others.

Dignity shows up when you successfully execute being powerful. Dignity, as a powerful emotion, brings self esteem, self worth, and confidence.

When you find a business culture seriously focused on extraordinary and uncommon customer care, you will find people with an abundance of Trust, Dignity, and Power.

Power and Dignity is a post from: Gregory Neil Associates

He started his business with the money in his own pockets.

He invented the idea of health clubs with juice bars…50 years ago!

He stood by his brand “no matter what” for 70 years of his career.

He wasn’t born into robust health, he made a choice to reinvent himself,

and then he did.

He never went to prime time, so powerful was his commitment, his stand, and his message; he enjoyed great success from the fringes of day time TV.

He walked his talk – He worked out daily no matter what.

He died recently at 96 – truly a great man, a hero to many of us, and a great example of the power of someone with a vision.

In Honor of Jack LaLanne is a post from: Gregory Neil Associates

We don’t often think of it as such, but being successful in business is a noble endeavor. It takes a special passion and strength to want something so much you’re willing to sacrifice a great deal of time, energy, and resources to see it through.

Business has its own process of natural selection, removing those less suited and rewarding those who persevere. Business people walk their talk, talented and savvy from their years of being tested in the market place of business. They have the drive and ability to do what must be done. They are thoughtful, insightful, resilient, tenacious, and thorough.

And the greatest amongst the most successful people I know are deeply spiritual. Their reverence for their path is evident in the way they conduct themselves, their business affairs, and the way they treat others. For them, business is a pathway for their wisdom, an expression of their spiritual understanding, and a gift to those around them.

To those amongst you, I dedicate this post. You are my inspiration.

Give Thanks Where Thanks is Due is a post from: Gregory Neil Associates

Option A: A business run by systems and procedures with obedient, but faceless, employees blindly obeying what they have been told to do-to produce the most cost effective product sold for the least amount of money in a highly competitive market where companies race to the bottom of the price scale leaving customers no choice other than to take the cheapest option since they are otherwise indistinguishable.

Challenges: Tons of competition; very slim margins; you are constantly needed to solve every problem and make every decision, costing a great deal of your time and energy.

Benefits: Inexpensive labor costs; easily replaced employees; low maintenance; simple to train and manage.

Option B: A business run by a collection of the most highly skilled professionals who work better than anything imaginable because that’s what they love to do, that’s what they need to do, that’s who they are. They reward you with their best effort, working harder, longer, and producing more than you pay them to because you have given them a work environment that’s not easily found. You pay them in the rare currency of freedom, respect, and a great deal of responsibility, and of course…cash.

Challenges: Higher pay; harder to replace; requires more training, coaching.

Benefits: Produces more than you can even imagine; produces work that’s never been done before, and 90% of the time or more they’re happy to do it completely without you!

Like the man said, whether you think you can do this or not, you will be right.

Mediocrity vs. Sustainable Profitability is a post from: Gregory Neil Associates

When you make a commitment to a certain goal, you set the stage for several things to happen. Failure and disappointment will typically show up first.

Many people stop right there, finding it too painful to push beyond this. People in the “habit” of succeeding recognize and welcome that as merely the first step. And people really familiar with the work it takes to succeed, use this as a tool to support their continued accomplishment, such as, keep “pushing through” the resistance.

The bigger the challenge, often the more the resistance, which may show up as fear, frustration, anger, dissatisfaction, or annoyance in the pre-breakthrough state.

To quote a client that is having daily breakthroughs in his ability to make cold calls-”Why didn’t I start this years ago?” and “What was all the resistance about?” These are two questions clearly demonstrating a very common experience on the post-breakthrough side.

What you can do, or dream you can do, begin it now. “Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” – Goeth

Breaking through…a very good habit to have is a post from: Gregory Neil Associates