Do you have an important philanthropic goal that you want your company or team to achieve? Whether it’s building a Habitat house in the community or raising funds for a local charity, the way to build excitement, consensus and participation for projects is no different from achieving other business goals: You have to “walk the talk.”

As a leader, it’s not enough to say a goal is important to your organization. You must demonstrate it on a personal level. Here are some tips from experts on getting your team behind a goal, whether it’s philanthropic or more business-oriented.

• First and most important, the goal must be something you believe in yourself. There’s no point convincing others of something if you can’t convince yourself. 
• Become a role model. Get involved and show your enthusiasm.
• Act as an equal member of the team. This is particularly important for philanthropic efforts—it gives your team members a sense of ownership.
• Acknowledge achievement with praise, recognition or even simple tokens for reaching interim goals.
• Use multiple means of communication to build commitment. Make sure people understand the project’s importance to the core mission of your organization.