Being determined requires perseverance, tenacity, and intention. It means the actions we are taking are deliberate.

Initiative is the courage to make decisions and act — people who take the initiative know when to act.

With the information we’ve been given, we act with self-control. With initiative, we move forward without fear of failure, even though we might make mistakes.

We can become more aware by observing what is going on inside and around us. Except for personal experience, we learn everything we know from someone else. We learn by watching others, reading, or listening. 

Practice self-regulation and keep emotions under control. Sound judgment and common sense are critical for higher quality decisions and distinguishing feelings from feel.

Along with bonding, commitment is a foundational quality between individuals of a capable team. Commitment sees us through difficult times and is the component that drives teams toward great achievements. A team that is committed to one another can focus on the critical path and has a common bond like no other. No one person or group will ever be successful without a firm commitment.

Cooperation is about working toward the benefit of the group. If what we are doing doesn’t benefit everyone involved, then it’s not cooperation. It’s something else. It could be ministry or service, where it helps others. Or, it could be selfishness, where it only benefits a small group or us.

Between hard work and enthusiasm is us and how we interact with one another. When trying to get something accomplished, most managers, under the pressures of the business, will offer the advice, “You don’t need to like each other or be best friends to accomplish a goal.” That might be true, but study after study indicates that trust is a crucial ingredient to effective teams. It is also the foundation of friendship. 

Enthusiasm is about genuine enjoyment. We will only succeed if we have some excitement for what we are doing. It is what gets us through the hard times. When we genuinely enjoy what we do, if we have enthusiasm for it, we’ll do better and come closer to reaching our potential.