By Nelson Semanu BOANDOH-KORKOR & Elizabeth BOANDOH-KORKOR
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” ~Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)
The Half-Hearted Hustle
Meet Tom, a bright and ambitious graphic designer at a mid-sized advertising agency. Tom had a knack for creativity and a portfolio that turned heads. But there was one problem: Tom often seemed distracted.
He would arrive late to meetings, miss deadlines and sometimes even forget about important client requests. His colleagues noticed that while Tom had the talent, he lacked the drive to fully commit to his projects.
One day, the agency landed a major client—a global tech company looking to rebrand. Tom was assigned to lead the design team. Excited by the opportunity, he started strong, brainstorming innovative ideas and presenting them to the client.
But as the project progressed, Tom’s commitment waned. He began delegating most of the work to his team, skipping check-ins, and even taking personal calls during crucial brainstorming sessions.
The team struggled to keep up without his guidance, and the project started to fall behind. When the client finally saw the initial designs, they were disappointed. The work lacked the polish and creativity they had expected from Tom’s initial pitch.
The agency had to scramble to salvage the project, and Tom’s reputation took a hit. His manager pulled him aside and said, “Tom, you have the talent, but talent alone isn’t enough. You need to show up—fully.
Half-hearted efforts can’t get you where you need to be
Tom’s story is a classic example of what happens when you don’t show full commitment and dedication to your work. Talent and creativity are great, but they’re not enough if you’re not willing to put in the effort.
Commitment is about more than just showing up—it’s about being fully present, engaged and willing to go the extra mile. When you’re half-hearted in your efforts, it shows. Projects suffer, teams struggle and your reputation takes a hit.
The truth is, no matter how talented you are, if you’re not fully committed, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Employers and clients notice when you’re not giving your all.
They can tell when you’re cutting corners or relying on others to pick up your slack. And while you might think you’re getting away with it, the consequences will catch up with you eventually.
People start to question your reliability when you don’t show full commitment. The failure to demonstrate your interest, your willingness to get the job done and your focus in seeing things through, exposes you to a lot of doubts. Doubts from your boss, doubts from your supervisors, colleagues and even mentors, if you are fortunate to have one.
Tom’s colleagues and clients began to see him as someone who couldn’t be trusted to deliver, which hurt his professional reputation. Do you want to be known as someone who can’t do the bare minimum of showing up, or the person who everyone can count on to deliver.
Bear in mind that employers are more likely to promote and reward employees who are fully dedicated.
A lack of commitment takes from you the chance to lead future high-profile projects. The truth is that certain projects require close monitoring. Those kinds of projects can’t be left in careless hands.
Lack of serious endeavour strains your relationship with your colleagues. When you’re not fully committed, it puts extra pressure on your team. Your colleagues will have to pick up the slack, which eventually leads to frustration and resentment.
Nobody will want to collaborate with you because you become some sort of a burden. Nobody likes a liability. They won’t want to deal with the excuses you are very likely to offer in place of actual results.
Without full commitment, you’re unlikely to reach your full potential. How could you? Growing one’s skills involves efforts, and efforts entails trying and failing and doing it all over again.
The pain and mistakes that occur along the way is how you hone your skill set and grow your talent. Indeed, your talent is left wasted anytime you refuse to put in the effort needed to excel.
This is how you can show commitment to your work instead
Set clear goals
Know what you’re working toward and why it matters. When you have a clear sense of purpose, it’s easier to stay committed.
A good foundation for setting your priorities is to draft a list or statement about what matters most.
You can start by writing a ‘career vision’. A career vision entails a list of your key values and work-life goals. It includes items like ‘nurture my team members’, ‘stay current in my field’, and ‘have time for a rich social life’. You can keep a copy of your vision with a calendar. This allows you to look at it during your weekly priority review session.
A technique that made a big difference in Gina’s efficiency was her new practice of starting every morning with a list of three tasks that must be done by day’s end.
These are the items that are so useful or important that their completion may make the day a success, no matter what else happens. She writes the list on an index card and posts it where she’ll see it frequently.
Prioritise your tasks
Focus on what’s most important and tackle those tasks first. Don’t let distractions pull you away from your priorities. Some activities on your ‘to-do’ list or calendar may not be of high enough priority to be worth doing.
Yet they tend to linger on your list. This often ends up distracting you or, worse, making you feel guilty. It can feel liberating to get real about your odds of finishing these low value action items.
Decluttering your list of immediate tasks can prove helpful. Learning how to scrutinise your calendar and task list for any kind of clutter will make you feel effective by downsizing on irrelevant tasks.
It’s also important to remember that some things aren’t top priority in the grand scheme of things, but they are worth doing immediately because of how much trouble they will save you in the long run.
For example, if you suspect that a quick explanatory meeting would allow you to calm down a disgruntled colleague, you might want to add it to your List of 3. If you wait, the problem may fester and ultimately, the misunderstanding will require much more of your energy to resolve.
Be present
Show up—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. Engage fully in meetings, projects and collaborations. Ask questions when you don’t understand or need clarification. Make notes to help you remember important duties assigned to you.
Being present means investing your time and energy into your work in such a way that keeps you up-to-date with trends.
It also contributes to your interest in your work. Over time, you learn to take part in things that you value, thereby discovering new areas of interest – aspects of your job that you are used to doing or find quite easy to finish. The way you think affects how you respond to tasks.
Also very important is that when you regularly pause and evaluate the relative significance and urgency of all the things you feel you must do. As you go through your evaluation process, ask yourself questions such as these:
Here are five questions to help an employee understand the importance of staying present and committed to their work:
- Is this task urgent and important to my job goals?
- What will happen if I don’t complete this task?
- How will this task help me grow and learn new skills?
- What does my boss or client expect from me in this task?
- What actions can I take to make today productive and successful?
Go the extra mile
This is important: Don’t just do the bare minimum. Look for ways to add value and exceed expectations.
The effort you put into accomplishing a task reflects a commitment to the job. Anticipating needs before they are explicitly stated demonstrates commitment.
For instance, if you’re working on a project, it helps if you can think hard about what additional support your team or client might need to succeed.
Sometimes it could be resources or information that can aid them get the job done quicker. Being proactive makes you out to be a person with initiative and foresight, which can set you apart from others who only meet the basic requirements. This approach builds trust. It positions you as a reliable and thoughtful contributor.
Surpassing expectations, no matter how much, can create a ripple effect of positivity. When you consistently deliver more than what’s asked, you inspire others to raise their own standards.
This can engineer a culture of excellence within your team or organisation, where everyone strives to do their best. Over time, this mindset can lead to greater achievements, stronger relationships and a reputation for being someone who truly cares about the quality and impact of their work.
What now?
If you’ve been guilty of half-hearted efforts, it’s time to make a change. Your career is too important to waste on lukewarm commitment.
Start by reflecting on your goals and what you want to achieve. Then, make a conscious effort to show up fully in everything you do. Remember, talent is just the starting point—commitment is what takes you to the next level.
Tips
- Tip #1: Start each day with a clear plan of what you need to accomplish. This will help you stay focused and committed.
- Tip #2: Avoid distractions by setting boundaries. Let your colleagues know when you need uninterrupted time to focus on your work.
- Tip #3: Celebrate small wins. Acknowledging your progress can boost your motivation and keep you committed.
- Tip #4: Surround yourself with committed and driven colleagues. Their energy and dedication can inspire you to step up your game.
>>>Nelson Semanu Boandoh-Korkor: Nelson is a respected author, publishing consultant and Christian business coach. He is passionate about financial evangelism and is also a forex trader, cryptocurrency investor and metaverse enthusiast.
Elizabeth Boandoh-Korkor (CA): Elizabeth is a highly accomplished Chartered Accountant with nearly two decades of experience in financial management consulting. She has worked extensively in both the non-profit and banking sectors. You can reach out to them at +233549762233 or [email protected]
