One would think that commitment was the number one leadership quality, but I have met some really committed leaders who were not very good at their jobs. I guess that’s on-the-job learning! Commitment is #3 on John Maxwell’s list, so one can see it’s importance.

   Last night our school’s robotics team won the top award, and we will now head to Regionals in Denver, Colorado. After several years of robots not doing what we wanted them to once we got to competition, this victory was much-needed. As I drove the bus home, I was reflecting as to who was the most valuable team member. Was it the sixth grader with the genius idea to which we turned when our servos failed? Or the phenomenal artists who every year make our display a work of art? How about the fabulous speakers who confidently present our brand in the exhibit and marketing presentations? Or the five robot drivers who put many evenings in practicing driving the robot and who never got flustered when parts failed but instead just thought of a new direction? Or was it the spirit captain who got 33 tired children to enjoy cheering so much that they won the spirit and sportsmanship award? Truth be told, I am proud of all of the kids. They made commitments to an activity that is extremely hard, and they were rewarded last night. I couldn’t be more pleased!

   True commitment recognizes that failure is just a learning opportunity. Leaders who continue beyond failures are so much wiser for having gone through it. Parents, you must use every failure as a teaching point. You must not be afraid to point out where shortcuts were taken or instructions were not followed. If you follow-up with complimenting all they did correctly, the future leader will hear the caution but also hear that you are not disappointed in them… just the choice made, and that can be changed by next go-around, especially if you make a plan for a next time.

    I’m pretty old-fashioned. I believe that commitments should be kept. My marriage, my teaching commitments, my membership in a group. If we teach our kids to at least follow through to the end of the period to which we committed, we never have to exit with our tail between our legs.

    Teaching our kids commitment takes a major time commitment from us, though. Believe me, this is a commitment worth making and keeping!

                                                                                                Michelle