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Self-Discipline- Three Keys to Accomplishment, Success, and Well-Being
John is a senior executive at a Fortune 500 manufacturing company. When I walked into his office, I was struck by the cacophony of stacks of paper, a rattled handshake, and a visceral feeling of chaotic energy. The office looked like an adolescent's room after a party. When I asked for one of his coaching objectives, he said "I want to get control of my time." I was relieved. He already had the insight that time was controlling him versus he controlling time.
The solution was that John needed to learn to be more self-disciplined. I explained that improving his self-discipline would allow him to make productive choices instead of emotional ones.
I let John know that no one follows an out of control leader. People follow disciplined leaders. Think about the military. Their entire culture and training is to improve discipline. Military leadership requires and demands unwavering discipline.
Discipline Destroys Chaos!
You ask, what is self-discipline? My perspective is that discipline is doing something that you naturally don't want to do. It's taking care of the present discomfort for a future reward. Think about discipline as the antidote to being out of control.
Later in our coaching program I provided my client three ways to be more disciplined. Daily rituals are the strongest practices for turning chaos into control. Below are the three keys to improving productivity by being self-disciplined:
Key # 1 - Make It Daily
Take those tasks that are constantly being ignored and denied. Identify 3-5 tasks that you should do on a daily basis. Begin those tasks first thing in the morning. For my client the daily tasks included spending 10 minutes a day meeting with his assistant, sending out one invitation for lunch, and reading one chapter of one book in his field of study.
Key #2 - Get Details Done
it's the little details that make a difference. Remember the saying "the devil is in the details." Being in denial of the details results in chaos, not control. The detail may be getting an expense report completed or editing an important e-mail. A detail may also be simply making a list of tasks to be done. Be self-disciplined to get the details done.
Key #3 - Be Determined
Being disciplined takes energy. It takes a mental attitude of determination. At the end of each day, think about three tasks you have accomplished. By disciplining your mind to focus on accomplished tasks, your determination to succeed on a daily basis will galvanize. Determination is an unwavering resolve to "win" no matter what.
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Sun Tzu -"The Art of War"
This book is filled with ancient wisdom about winning battles. The author's principles are equally applicable to being in the midst of a battle for survival or a leader who is in the midst of growing a company in a changing world.The principles, when applied, are instrumental in "winning" as a warrior or a leader.
Sun Tzu reminds us not to rely on the "enemy" or challenge not coming. Instead success comes from being ready to "receive" any challenge. In Sun Tzu's own words, being prepared means that you "have made your position unassailable."
The most effective way to understand Sun Tzu is his five principles of leadership. According to Sun Tzu, you, as a leader, will win every battle when:
- You know when to fight and when not to fight.
- You know how to match the right strategy to the right situation.
- Your team is united in its vision and motivation to achieve the goal.
- You are prepared to act while your competitors are still planning.
- You empower individuals to make decisions and demonstrate their strength.
Sun Tzu summarizes his strategy when the fog of battle can overcome even the strongest and fiercest warrior. The same strategy is exposited when a leader is warring against constant change. Sun Tzu says "the consummate leader cultivates the oral law, and strictly adheres to method and discipline: thus it is in his power to control success."
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Leading Research -
Self-control Increases Happiness
According to a 2013 study by Wilhelm Hoffman, people with high self-control are happier than those without. The study discovered that self-discipline increases ones capability to deal with goal conflicts.
The self disciplined did not allow choices to be dictated by impulse or feeling. Instead, through self-discipline, people made informed, rational decisions on a daily basis without feeling overly stressed or upset. (Forbes, June 18, 2014).
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- To keep your career fresh and secure, network all the time. There is a saying that "if you are not networking you are not working."
- When hiring, be aware of that insidious psychological block called "being threatened." Instead of being threatened, focus on the candidate's capacity to help you succeed.
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Solving People and Management Issues
The Heller Group focuses on coaching for senior level executives. We facilitate change within an organization that results in more effective leadership, increased productivity, innovative thinking, and improved employee morale and retention.
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Dr. Bruce Heller
Dr. Bruce Heller, founder of The Heller Group, Inc., has over 20 years experience consulting with managers and executives on executive education, leadership development, and organizational.
He is an adjunct professor at Southwestern Law School.
Dr. Heller is a consulting psychologist and member of the American Psychological Association Consulting Psychology Division. Dr. Heller holds a Ph.D. and Masters Degree in Education from the University of Southern California.
Dr. Heller is the author of The Prodigal Executive-How to Coach Executives Too Painful to Keep, Too Valuable to Fire.
Read the book.
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