In my experience, strategic plans fail because they do not create an environment of engagement and commitment around achieving the corporate goals. This story illustrates one of the pitfalls I’ve seen over and over – disengagement begets disengagement. Said another way, engagement and commitment is a two-way street.
I paused the first part of the story at the point where the kids got excited about cleaning the house and went to work. An hour or so went by, and the house was looking better. The kids slowed down, and switched to playing rather than cleaning up.
“Are y’all complete with cleaning the house?” I asked.
“Yes,” they each said.
To which I replied, “Hmmm,” for I could see things that had escaped their ever watchful eyes and careful attention to detail. “Come over here,” I said. “Stand right here and look over there. What do you see?”
“Harumph. I see a sock (papers, dirty clothes, dishes),” Macy said.
“But Dad,” Iain exclaimed, “We just need a break.”
“Alright,” I said. “You’ve gotten a lot done. Take a little break.”
Thirty minutes into the “little” break, I gathered them all together in the living room. “How’s it going?” I asked.
“OK,” they said.
“Can I ask you a question?” I asked.
As is often the case when all three are together, silence was the response. And, as is often the case when silence is the response, I chose to interpret that as, “Yes.”
“What are you more committed to in this moment? Playing? Or going out to eat?”
“Playing,” Eryk begrudgingly admitted.
“And is that OK?” I asked.
“Yes,” Iain quickly replied.
“Yes,” I affirmed. And continued, “Will there come a time when you’re more committed to going out to eat than you are playing?”
“Yes,” the band of siblings replied.
“And when might that time come?” I asked.
Macy eagerly responded, “Thirty seconds!”
And they all began to count down from 30, in unison. Approximately 30 seconds later, they re-engaged cleaning the house. This time around, however, they eagerly accepted my oversight and pointers. Within 30 minutes, the house was clean. Melissa arrived home to a clean house, beaming with smiles at their accomplishment.
As I reflected on that incident later that evening, several things occurred to me.
- There’s nothing wrong with taking a break. And, doing so delays other goals. Recognize where commitments are competing with each other and own your choices.
- Question or Inquisition? Sometimes, I come across as an Inquisitioner. In this case, I chose a gentle, soft tone…and got the result I wanted. An inquisition produces frustration. A question engages dialogue.
- The kids were engaged and committed to cleaning the house so that we would go out to eat. Once I became engaged an committed to shepherding them along and holding them capable around their own engagement and commitment, we achieved great (and delicious) things. Engagement and commitment is a two-way street.
