# Integrity and Commitments

#### Commitments

A commitment is a promise or agreement to do something. A responsibility, obligation and dedication to a cause that intentionally restricts freedom of action to achieve a desired outcome.

In Future Leaders we value actively practice living up to our commitments to strengthen our integrity as leaders. Someone with integrity, is someone who stay true to their words and which others can count on to come through on what they promise —even if it's difficult, inconvenient or uncomfortable.

_"Honesty, is making your words conform to reality. Integrity is making reality conform to your words." - Stephen Covey_

Without this kind of integrity you cannot be an effective leader. Why? Trust depends on integrity and if people can't rely on your word, they won't trust you. They may extend some grace, but eventually, people will doubt and disbelieve. Influence depends on trust meaning people will refuse the influence of leaders they distrust. Impact depends on influence which means you can't make the impact you want unless you can influence others and shift their behavior. The strength of our relationships is measured by how much people can count on us. If we're not true to our words, that means our relationships will be as unreliable as we are.

However there's nothing wrong with asking to be released from a commitment. But if we can't get free, then we need to make good on it. Nothing destroys our credibility faster than bailing on a commitment. In an increasingly more volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world we need, more than ever, to commit to staying true to our integrity.
