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2008 June Youth Issue
Are you committed?
by Jennifer Shike
Michael Jordan posed an interesting comment one day, “If you want to make a difference in other people’s lives as a leader, look into your heart to see if you’re really committed.”
Many people aspire to be leaders, but when it comes down to it, few are able to put in the commitment it requires. As the popular quote says, “If you think you’re leading and no one is following you, then you’re only taking a walk.”
I’ve had the opportunity to study great leaders in action, and I’ve attended countless leadership conferences and training sessions. But without commitment, all of this training means nothing.
Commitment ignites action and causes things to happen. When you commit yourself to a cause, you are promising you will adhere to a certain purpose or line of conduct. And you live this out consistently – not just off and on. It becomes deeply rooted in who you are.
In college, one leader that stood out in my life was my former teammate, now husband, Dan.
On our livestock judging team, everyone went to Dan for advice – what did he think of that class, how would he describe that fault, would he use that bull for an A.I. sire, etc. It was obvious that our team recognized Dan’s commitment and passion for livestock judging. It was his top priority. So, people sought him out as a leader and trusted him. Dan kept his focus as a judge and stayed on top of his many commitments so he could give his best to the team.
Now that he coaches his own livestock judging team, I have the unique perspective of being a coach’s wife. Honestly, it’s harder than it first looked. It’s not easy to say good-bye to my husband for more than two weeks while he travels to contests around the country with his team. But, when I see the response he gets from the young people he coaches and the joy it brings him, I know he is in the right career. And without deep commitment, he would not be the leader his team needs. Leaders must work harder and go the extra mile. It’s not optional.
When I reflect on our industry, the list of leaders that comes to mind is long. They lead with an unwavering passion and commitment, especially during hard times.
Many of our NJSA members have what it takes to be the next great leaders of our industry. If that could be you, my advice is simple. Get committed!
Here are a few tips to help you develop commitment as a leader.
1. Commit yourself to a set of values. Decide what values matter most to you and live your life following them. It’s easy to get off track by peer pressure or others who want to hold you back. Stand strong and be the person you want to be. Sometimes your parents are the best people to talk to about determining your core values – and sometimes it’s a family friend, teacher or coach.
2. Commit yourself to act like a leader. Leaders need integrity and self confidence. They want to continually improve themselves. Leaders aren’t afraid to take constructive suggestions from others they admire. Find someone older you respect and ask them to mentor you – learn from their experiences and their suggestions.
3. Commit yourself to serving others. The best leaders are servants at heart. They want to help others achieve goals and find success. Look for ways to help others – offer to help someone walk their pigs, share tips on feeding, help them choose a showpig or study with them for the skillathon. Good leaders treat people with respect, challenge them and give them effective feedback on how they are doing. When you go out of your way to help others achieve their potential, you’ll achieve yours as a leader.
4. Commit yourself to hard work. Being a leader is not easy. Demonstrating commitment isn’t either. The only way you can prove you are committed is to achieve a reputation based on your performance and track record. Do what you say you will do and work hard to get there.
Whether you are leading your local 4-H club, basketball team or the NJSA, I encourage you to make commitment a high priority in your life. You’ll be able to show your commitment best during the tough times you’ll inevitably face as a leader. Your ability to weather the toughest storms and stand firm in your beliefs will help you achieve true satisfaction. And, I’ll bet if you look behind you, you’ll see others following.
