The ability to make and keep commitments first with ourselves and then with others is the foundation of personal and professional effectiveness. Internal capability, precedes external credibility because it forms the foundation for trustworthiness, consistency, and reliability, firstly in our private life and then in our public life. These are qualities essential for success in all external interactions, entrepreneurial, personal and professional. 

Imagine a majestic tree standing tall. Its expansive branches reach out, leaves rustling in the wind, providing shade and shelter to it’s surroundings. People admire its strength and beauty. However, what isn’t immediately visible is the intricate network of roots beneath the surface that anchors the tree firmly to the ground. These ‘internal’ roots are foundational to all sustainable ‘external’ achievements and personal fulfilment. 

1. Internal Capability (The Roots): The roots represent your internal commitments. These are the commitments with yourself and those closest to you. These roots delve deep into the soil, seeking nutrients and water, providing stability and sustenance. Without strong roots, a tree cannot stand tall; it would be easily toppled by winds or unable to nourish its growth. From my own experience and observation, we cannot have a truly effective life without first making and keeping internal commitments and promises. 

2. External Credibility (The Fruits): The visible parts of the tree—its trunk, branches, and Fruits—symbolize your external credibility and interactions. They showcase the tree’s health and strength, offering benefits to the environment, such as oxygen, shade, and habitat for creatures. Our external abilities, personal, interpersonal or professional or sports are always predicated on the foundation of keeping commitments in our personal life. The best way to do this is to feed them regularly by first making small commitments with yourself and then others at home and then branching out to others both personal and professional. 

Learning to be strong in the weak moments and dealing with resistance can be like the wind that blows against a tree. Just as wind tests the strength and resilience of a tree, conflicts test the strength and resilience of a persons resolve. Consider these three related points;

• Wind as Conflict: When strong winds blow, a tree sways, bends, and sometimes loses a few leaves or branches. Similarly, conflicts in life—whether they are personal challenges, professional disagreements, or unexpected setbacks—create pressure, stress, and difficulty.
• Roots as Inner Strength: A tree with deep, strong roots can withstand even the fiercest winds. These roots anchor the tree firmly in the ground, providing stability and nourishment. In the same way, when you have strong internal commitments—like self-discipline, integrity, and resilience—you are better equipped to handle resistance. These “roots” keep you grounded, allowing you to stand firm in your principles and decisions.
• Older Trees are Usually Strongest: Just as roots grow deeper and stronger over time, your ability to handle resistance improves as you consistently honor your internal commitments. Each challenge faced and overcome reinforces your inner strength, much like a tree that becomes more resilient after surviving a storm.

In essence, the stronger your internal root structure, the better you can endure and deal with resistance. Instead of being uprooted or weakened by challenges, you emerge stronger and more resilient, much like a tree that stands tall after a storm. Just as the old saying goes..‘Good timber never grows with ease, the stronger the wind, the stronger the trees.’

Connection: Just as a tree’s grandeur and utility depend on the health of its roots, your external effectiveness and reliability hinge on your internal ability to make and keep commitments. Neglecting the roots jeopardizes the entire tree, no matter how robust it appears on the outside. Similarly, without a foundation of internal discipline and integrity based on your deeply held values, external successes are fragile and unsustainable often based on momentary feelings or emotions. 

Building internal capability can be beneficial in the following six ways; 

The Six ‘Roots and Fruits’ of Making and Keeping Commitments

1. Trustworthiness and Trust:

• Internal Commitments: When you consistently make and keep commitments to yourself, you develop self-discipline and trust in your ability to follow through. This internal trust is crucial because it creates a sense of integrity and confidence.
• External Commitments: Trusting yourself makes it easier for others to trust you. This builds trustworthiness. If you can’t keep commitments to yourself, others will likely sense this inconsistency,      which will undermine your credibility and reliability in external relationships.

2. Consistency and Reliability:

• Internal Habits: Keeping internal commitments cultivates consistency in behaviour. For instance, if you commit to exercising daily or completing tasks on time, you develop a pattern of reliability.
• External Actions: This consistency translates into external actions. Others will observe your ability to reliably meet deadlines, fulfill promises, and maintain standards. This reliability is crucial in building strong professional and personal relationships.

3. Self-Leadership and Autonomy:

• Internal Discipline: Effective external leadership starts with self-leadership. By making and keeping commitments to yourself, you practice discipline, decision-making, and accountability.
• External Influence: When you lead yourself effectively, you are better equipped to lead others. Your ability to manage yourself inspires confidence in your ability to manage teams, projects, or relationships.

4. Confidence and Empowerment:

• Internal Security: Achieving internal goals by keeping commitments builds confidence. This confidence is empowering and creates a positive feedback loop of success.
• External Success: When you approach external tasks with confidence, you are more likely to succeed. This empowerment enables you to take on challenges, negotiate effectively, and inspire others.

5. Alignment and Authenticity:

• Internal Alignment: Keeping internal commitments ensures that your actions align with your values and beliefs. This alignment creates authenticity, as you live according to your principles.
• External Impact: Authenticity is magnetic and impactful in external interactions. Others are drawn to and respect individuals who are true to their word and aligned with their values, which enhances your influence and effectiveness.

6. Resilience and Adaptability:

• Internal Strength: Keeping commitments to yourself builds resilience. You learn to overcome obstacles and adapt to changes, knowing that you can rely on yourself to stay the course.
• External Challenges: This resilience is crucial when facing external challenges. It allows you to navigate complex situations with confidence, adapt to unexpected changes, and maintain stability in your commitments to others.

In summary, internal capability in making and keeping commitments is the bedrock upon which external credibility is built. They are the ‘Roots and Fruits’ that shape your character, influence your interactions with others, and ultimately determines your success in all  endeavours in business and life.

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© Ben Benson

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