The Power of Strategic Commitment

My latest book review is on "The Power of Strategic Commitment - Achieving Extraordinary Results Through TOTAL Alignment and Engagement" by Josh Leibner, Gershon Mader and Alan Weis. Great book.



The book is more about gaining commitment than what the strategy should be. Strategy has always been one of my greatest strengths. And of course to make a strategy work, I always need buy in.



The gist of the message is sell people in the organization to be committed. We all know that many people are not fully engaged, this book talks about how to get them engaged. Clearly a laudable goal. I did not need the chapter on why it is important.



Some Quotes:



"Commitment trumps compliance". "Most leaders confuse Compliance and commitment". So true. And the cost of having police is not only their cost but the reduction in speed it can create for an organization.



"The only thing harder than gaining trust is losing it and trying to regain it". The book talks about the need for trust and how to gain it (mostly just old fashioned walk the walk, integrity, fairness, consistency).



"Are you your history or your future - you really have a choice"



"Strategy must be bold enough to make the organization more effective". I have seen this first hand. Bold strategy does involve some discomfort and change. This is where the people need to be inspired.



Interesting aside. I did not know where the phrase stake in the ground came from. Aztec warriors used to tie their ankle to a stake so they could not retreat from their position. It was win or else...



I loved the scorecards and tools in the appendix and could see a definite practical use for them. They would be perfect for someone who is a leader or manager with more than a few people.

Have a great day!