December 11th, 2023
The cycle of commitment is a set of conversational moves intended to generate and coordinate action between people so they can quickly and effectively get work done. When people who work together use the commitment cycle language consistently it significantly increases the chance that they make strong commitments they will keep. As such it can be a powerful tool.
However, when the cycle of commitment is divorced from a shared purpose and vision, and taken out of the context of the larger network of conversations that are necessary for an organization to function it loses a great deal of its value. These include conversations to explore possibilities, make good decisions, learn, and develop resilient relationships. Without an understanding and appreciation of this using the commitment cycle simply to generate action can result in people making good commitments to do the wrong things.