an online book by David Gurteen
A promise is a commitment by someone to do or not do something. As a noun promise means a declaration assuring that one will or will not do something. As a verb it means to commit oneself by a promise to do or give. It can also mean a capacity for good, similar to a value that is to be realized in the near future.
In the law of contract, an exchange of promises is usually held to be legally enforceable, according to the Latin maxim pacta sunt servanda.
Credit: Wikipedia - promisePowerful questions are those that, in the answering, evoke a choice for accountability and commitment. | Peter Block Continue reading Powerful Questions Evoke a Choice for Accountability and Commitment Peter Block
How can you recognize communityship? That’s easy. You have found it when you walk into an organization and are struck by the energy in the place, the personal commitment of the people and their collective engagement in what they are doing. These people don’t have to be formally empowered because they are naturally engaged. The organization … | Henry Mintzberg Continue reading How Can You Recognize Communityship? Henry Mintzberg
Despite current ads and slogans, the world doesn’t change one person at a time. It changes when networks of relationships form among people who share a common cause and vision of what’s possible. This is good news for those of us intent on creating a positive future. Rather than worry about critical mass, our work is to foster critical … | Meg Wheatley Continue reading The World Doesn’t Change One Person at a Time Meg Wheatley
A new future is created when each gathering (or meeting) becomes an opportunity to deepen accountability and commitment through engagement. It doesn’t matter what the stated purpose of the gathering is. Each gathering serves two functions: (1) to address its stated purpose and (2) to be an occasion for each person to decide to become engaged as an … | Peter Block Continue reading A Gathering Serves Two Functions Peter Block
But when I said that nothing had been done I erred in one important matter. We had definitely committed ourselves and were halfway out of our ruts. We had put down our passage money – booked a sailing to Bombay. This may sound too simple, but is great in consequence. Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always … | W. H. Murray Continue reading Until One Is Committed, There Is Hesitancy W. H. Murray
Leadership begins with understanding that every gathering is an opportunity to deepen accountability and commitment through engagement. It doesn’t matter what the stated purpose of the gathering is. Each gathering serves two functions: to address its stated purpose, its business issues; and to be an occasion for each person to decide to become … | Peter Block Continue reading How Leadership Begins Peter Block
Introduction: Conversational Habits Talk More Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Make time to talk: One of the reasons we frequently give for not taking a more conversational approach to our work or life is a lack … Continue reading Make Time to Talk The lack of time for conversation is just an excuse
Take responsibility: In life, we can choose to take responsibility in several ways. Most critically, we can choose to take ownership of the changes we wish to see in the world. Continue reading I. Take Responsibility We need to take responsibility for the changes we wish to see in the world
Introduction: Motivation and Engagement ** Motivation ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Commitment shapes our decisions and actions, but not all commitments are the same. Without true commitment, hesitation and uncertainty hold us back. The moment … Continue reading What Commitment Really Means We are committed when we decide to do something without any expectation of return
One of the most significant mistakes we often commit when striving to initiate change is trying to enforce things upon others. Continue reading Ownership, Not Buy-in We need to move from buy-in to ownership
What Commitment Really Means Engagement ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Motivation is a fire from within. If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly. Credit: Stephen … Continue reading Motivation ** Motivation is a fire from within
Punished by Rewards We Need to Stop Trying to Do Things to Each Other Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close We use the words responsibility and accountability loosely in everyday language, but what’s the difference? We take responsibility but … Continue reading The Difference Between Responsibility and Accountability We take responsibility but are held accountable
Don’t Discourage Dissent: Many view conflict as bad and try suppressing it, but disagreement is healthy. It is an opportunity to have a meaningful conversation, and we should encourage it. Continue reading Don’t Discourage Dissent Fear, uncertainty and doubt are good things
