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The Board of 3Cs - Commitment, Competency and Collaboration: Empowering Powerful Leadership
Introduction:
In today's dynamic business world, technical brilliance alone no longer guarantees success particularly for those stepping into strategic and board-level roles. The transition from technical expert to strategic leader is a defining transformation that many professionals must undergo. This journey demands more than operational know-how; it calls for a holistic blend of leadership mindset, business acumen, and people-centric influence.
Through my journey - from engineering shop floors to engaging in boardroom-level strategies - I began to recognize a pattern in how professionals evolve. For me, this transformation centers around three foundational elements: Commitment, Competency, and Collaboration.
Inside the 3C Framework: The Building Blocks of Strategic Leadership
Pillar 1: Commitment
Commitment = Motivation + Ownership Commitment is the intrinsic force that drives consistent action and progress. It's a blend of motivation, which fuels our energy, and ownership, which anchors our responsibility. Shaped by how we are raised and the experiences that test and inspire us, commitment reflects how deeply we are engaged and how steadfast we remain in pursuing our goals, even through uncertainty.
“Commitment is the re within - lit by motivation, sustained by ownership, and forged by life's experiences.”
Pillar 2: Competency
Competency = Knowledge + Skill + Attitude
Competency is the ability to perform effectively in any role or task. It is built on three elements: knowledge, which is what you know; skill, which is the ability to apply that knowledge; and attitude, which determines how you approach and adapt while applying those skills - it is the mindset through which you perceive situations.
"Competency begins with learning, strengthens through doing, and is dened by how you think while doing it."
Pillar 3: Collaboration
Collaboration = Communication + Empathy + Influence
It is the ability to work effectively with others to achieve shared goals. While commitment drives action and competency enables execution, collaboration makes progress sustainable. Strategic leadership is not a solo act. It requires building consensus, resolving conflicts, and aligning diverse teams - all of which hinge on one critical capability: Emotional Intelligence (EI).
• EI enhances Communication - by helping you listen deeply and speak with clarity.
• EI strengthens Empathy - by enabling you to understand perspectives and build trust.
• EI fuels Influence - by allowing you to lead without authority and create buy-in.
“Even if you're 99.99% capable, you are still not 100%. You need a team to make it happen — respect them.”
The 3C Integrated Leadership Model
| Pillar | Core Formula | Purpose |
| Commitment | Motivation + Ownership | Drive and accountability |
| Competency | Knowledge + Skill + Attitude | Capability and execution |
| Collaboration | Communication + Empathy + Influence | Connection and synergy |
“Leadership is not just about making decisions; it's about making people part of the decision.”
From Technical Expertise to Strategic Leadership
Technical expertise is about solving problems, mastering processes, and applying the right tools - it's knowing how to do things right. Strategic leadership, in contrast, is about setting direction, aligning resources, managing people, and making decisions that shape the future - it's knowing why to do things and where to go next.
As professionals grow, there comes a pivotal moment when technical excellence must evolve into broader leadership capability. That transformation requires more than knowledge - it demands the ability to lead with vision, execute with agility, and influence with impact. This is where the 3C framework becomes a catalyst.
The first step in this journey is to know the unknown - to recognize the gaps between where you are and where you aspire to be. That is what competency building is all about. The moment you decide to transform, you begin identifying these gaps and taking action to bridge them. Through commitment, you gain the drive; through competency, you gain the capability; and through collaboration, you gain the power to lead beyond boundaries.
Conclusion
When commitment fuels your drive, competency shapes your capability, and collaboration strengthens your influence - you move beyond managing tasks to leading with clarity, conviction, and purpose.
You do not just execute tasks - you align them with a greater mission. You do not just rely on what you know - you think strategically and act decisively. And you do not just communicate - you inspire, include others in the journey, and influence outcomes with purpose.
Ultimately, the transformation from technical expertise to strategic leadership is not only achievable - it is the natural evolution when guided by the right principles. The 3C framework provides a structured yet human-centered path for professionals ready to embrace leadership that is intentional, impactful, and future-ready.
Back to HomeAuthor
Mr. Mohammedriyazdheen A
He is Founder Director of Stance Projects India Pvt Ltd, is part of the management team at Insight Engineering Systems Pvt. Ltd. A Certified Independent Director, he is an Engineering graduate and Masters in Project Management with Executive Education in Strategic Management from IIM Kozhikode.
Owned by: Institute of Directors, India
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