Hosted by George Trachilis & Dr. Tom Lawless | Leadership Excellence Podcast
🎧 Stream live Saturdays at 8:30 AM CST on LeadershipX.tv
George Trachilis welcomes listeners and previews the Leadership Excellence topic page for each week’s focus. Introduces Dr. Tom Lawless.
Tom Lawless presents Engage People: 3 Inspiring Ways to Build Commitment and Keep People Engaged — a deep dive into how leaders create purpose, connection and care.
“Commitment doesn’t come from pressure or incentives —it comes from leadership that inspires people to care.”
George explains why clarity of purpose is the foundation of commitment. He shares the story of three stone cutters to illustrate different levels of motivation.
Tom Lawless illustrates with General Stanley McChrystal’s “crystal‑clear vision,” a military example of alignment and shared purpose.
“A clear vision is a force multiplier — when everyone understands why the mission matters.”
George and Tom discuss linking every task to the larger goal. Examples include the Open Window 64 chart and the Harada App’s One Small Improvement system. Tom shares how military leaders help soldiers see their impact on mission readiness.
“People engage deeply when they see that their small tasks create large consequences for the team and mission.”
Trust grows when leaders are consistent and genuinely care. George shares how he balanced discipline with empathy through the Harada Method. Tom adds a story about Army commanders learning to “know their soldiers.”
“Don’t just care when things go wrong — care all the time.”
George and Tom reiterate the three ways to build commitment and encourage leaders to practice them daily. They thank listeners and invite everyone to discover next week’s topic on LeadershipX.tv.
In Engaging People‑3 Inspiring Ways to Build Commitment, leaders learn how to move beyond basic management and tap into what truly motivates people. Commitment isn’t created through pressure—it’s built through trust, purpose, and meaningful involvement. In Engaging People‑3 Inspiring Ways to Build Commitment, we highlight practical ways leaders can inspire dedication every day. This includes inviting people into the decision‑making process, connecting individual strengths to organizational goals, and creating an environment where voices are valued.
There are several simple things anyone can do to build commitment. Start by asking team members what success looks like to them—not just what you need from them. Share the “why” behind decisions so people see the bigger picture. Provide opportunities for others to lead, even in small ways. For example, a retail store manager can rotate team members into daily huddles so each person gets a chance to speak and lead the conversation. A project manager can let team members choose roles that fit their strengths rather than assigning every task. A teacher can increase engagement by letting students design part of a project or choose how they present their work.
Ultimately, Engaging People‑3 Inspiring Ways to Build Commitment reminds us that when leaders empower, include, and encourage ownership, people don’t just comply—they commit.
