Disciplined But Never Whipped

To stand out and succeed, you need discipline, right? But what prizes does it really help you win, and what’s the right way to make sure everybody follows the rules. We’ll cover that and four strategies for building personal discipline in this episode of Faithful on the Clock.

Timestamps:

[00:05] - Intro

[00:35] - Discipline is not just perfectly black and white. Don’t try to label yourself too hard.

[01:15] - Discipline is something you can learn, and levels vary. Knowing where the bar is for expectations and understanding you can grow is important at the office.

[01:33] - Discipline is hard.

[02:30] - Discipline has metrics-based profits as well as interpersonal benefits.

[03:10] - Good leaders enforce rules because they want everyone to enjoy good things. Like God, they care.

[04:42] - How you discipline matters. Don’t make people suffer, but find ways to use positive reinforcements.

[05:28] - Discipline needs to be gradual and increase in severity over time according to the spirit of forgiveness. It should not come as a surprise.

[06:02] - Forgive yourself just as you do others. Keep your eye on the prize.

[06:32] - Improving discipline isn’t just a matter of making good plans. You have to get yourself to follow through!

[07:04] - Having an accountability buddy can motivate you to consistent behavior and help you reach your goals.

[07:57] - Temptation or habit bundling can help you with discipline because most of our habits are driven by repetition.

[08:54] - Creating hurdles is another discipline strategy that works.

[09:20] - Set small goals so your experience is positive and you want to continue with your habit. For example, if I want to run a marathon, I start out with just a ¼ of a mile. 

[10:46] - Strategy recap

[11:10] - It’s possible to be too self-disciplined, so be careful. 

[12:07] - Have some fun! Work should bring joy.

[12:33] - Prayer

[13:19] - Outro/what’s coming up next

Key takeaways:

• You don’t have to label yourself as “disciplined” or “undisciplined”. You can be consistent in some things and not others, and there’s variation in discipline levels across cultures. But you and your team do need to know what the expectations are and understand it’s possible to adapt.
• 1 Corinthians 9:24 clarifies that not everybody wins the race. We do have to do something different and put in real effort to win.
• Discipline has both tangible and interpersonal benefits. Good leaders enforce rules because they want people to enjoy good things, and because it’s less stressful to know everything is working/protected.
• Discipline is hard and unpleasant. So as a leader, be compassionate. Gradually increase punishment and don’t let punishments catch people off guard. Use positive reinforcements wherever you can. Be as forgiving to yourself as you are to others.
• There are four key strategies to improve discipline: 1) Find an accountability buddy. 2) Use habit bundling. 3) Set up hurdles. 4) Start with small goals.
• You can take discipline too far, which puts you at risk of burnout. So don’t be too strict. Have some fun and let yourself be joyful.

Relevant Links:

ASTD Handbook for Measuring and Evaluating Training

What Does It Really Take to Build a New Habit?

CTAs:

• Be careful how you discipline yourself and others. Approach punishment with a spirit of forgiveness.
• Use the four outlined strategies to become more consistent in behaviors or tasks of your choice.
• Build some fun into your work and don’t be too disciplined. Remember God laughs and that work should bring joy!

What’s coming up next:

Today’s companies face a market that changes faster than ever. Is it possible to achieve true brand consistency and build a legacy that can last for decades or even centuries? We’ll cover that and give you tips for staying true to your original brand voice in Episode 12 of Faithful on the Clock.