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Welcome to my Newsletter - Monday Morning Motivations (MMM) - Article #10:

The uncomfortable truth about success - why discipline is the key to achieving your goals

February 20, 2023

Discipline is a super important trait for leaders to have. It means being able to control your impulses, emotions, and desires to reach your long-term goals. Leaders who have discipline can keep their focus and stay committed to making rational decisions that help their team be successful.

Having discipline as a leader helps you know exactly where you want to take your team and what you need to do to get there. This means you won't get sidetracked by minor details or distractions that don't matter. Plus, when your team sees you're so focused, they'll be inspired to do the same. That kind of culture is really great for productivity and efficiency!

Another benefit of being a disciplined leader is that it helps you make better decisions. By taking the time to really think things through, you're less likely to make impulsive choices that are based on emotions or short-term thinking. That can save you from making mistakes that would hurt the team in the long run.

Having discipline also helps build trust and respect among team members. When you're a consistent and dependable leader, your team will know they can count on you. Plus, you'll become a role model for them to look up to and follow, creating a positive and respectful culture.

Overall, being a disciplined leader is really important. It gives you clarity, inspires your team, helps you make better decisions, and earns you the trust and respect of your team. By cultivating discipline in your leadership style, you can achieve great things and inspire your team to do the same.

Defining discipline in leadership

When we talk about discipline in the context of leadership, we're referring to the ability to control oneself in pursuit of a long-term goal. Discipline is all about keeping focus and avoiding distractions, even in the face of challenges and obstacles.

For leaders, discipline means having the self-control to make difficult decisions, stick to a plan, and prioritize tasks that are in line with the team's goals. It involves putting the team's objectives first, even if that means sacrificing personal comfort or desires.

Discipline in leadership also means taking responsibility for one's actions and being accountable to the team. It involves being honest and transparent with the team, admitting when things go wrong, and taking the necessary steps to correct mistakes.

Discipline is closely related to self-awareness, which is another critical trait for effective leaders. Self-aware leaders understand their strengths and weaknesses, know their limits, and recognize when they need to seek help or advice from others.

Discipline in leadership is about having the self-control and commitment to make the tough choices and stay the course, even when things get challenging. It involves being accountable, responsible, and transparent with the team, and always putting the team's goals first. By developing discipline in their leadership practice, leaders can inspire their teams to work towards their long-term goals with focus and determination.

When I was doing my Masters, I was determined to earn good grades and excel in my studies. I had a strong desire to graduate with a Distinction average and pursue a career in finance. However, I found myself facing many distractions and challenges along the way.

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One particular semester, I had a full course load, including several challenging classes. On top of that, I was involved in extracurricular activities, had a part-time job, and was dealing with personal issues that were causing a lot of stress.

It was tempting to let my studies slide and focus on other things that seemed more pressing at the time. I found myself procrastinating, avoiding assignments, and struggling to stay focused. However, I knew that if I let myself get sidetracked, I wouldn't be able to achieve my long-term goals.

I realized that discipline was the key to staying on track and avoiding distractions. I made a plan to prioritize my studies and set aside time every day to work on assignments and study for exams. I also cut back on my extracurricular activities and made sure to take breaks and practice self-care to manage my stress.

It wasn't easy, but I remained disciplined and stayed the course, even when faced with challenges and obstacles. I was able to earn good grades and ultimately graduate with a Distinction average. Looking back, I know that discipline was the foundation for my success, helping me stay focused and avoid distractions, even in the face of adversity.

Why discipline is often more effective than motivation

When it comes to achieving goals, many people focus on motivation as the key to success. However, while motivation is undoubtedly important, discipline is often more effective in the long run.

Motivation is an emotional state that can fluctuate based on external circumstances. It's easy to feel motivated when things are going well, but much harder to maintain that motivation when challenges and obstacles arise. On the other hand, discipline is a habit that can be developed and cultivated over time. It's about setting clear goals, prioritizing tasks, and staying focused even when motivation wanes.

One of the problems with relying solely on motivation is that it's often out of our control. We may feel motivated one day and not the next, or external factors may dampen our motivation. However, discipline is something that we can control. We can choose to stick to our plan, even when we don't feel like it, and focus on the tasks that need to be done to achieve our goals.

Another advantage of discipline is that it creates a positive cycle of progress. When we make progress towards our goals, even in small ways, we build momentum and motivation naturally follows. In other words, discipline leads to motivation, rather than the other way around.

Discipline is also more sustainable than motivation. While motivation can be fleeting, discipline is a habit that can be maintained over the long term. When we cultivate discipline, we develop the skills and habits needed to stay focused and avoid distractions. Over time, discipline becomes a part of our identity, and we no longer rely on external factors to keep us motivated.

While motivation is undoubtedly important, discipline is often more effective in achieving long-term goals.

Strategies for developing discipline in leadership

Here are five strategies for developing discipline in leadership:

1. Set Clear Goals: Having clear, measurable goals is the foundation for discipline in leadership. It's essential to have a clear sense of what you want to achieve and why it's important. Once you have defined your goals, create an action plan to break down the steps needed to reach them.
2. Prioritize: With clear goals in place, it's important to prioritize tasks that are aligned with those goals. It's easy to get sidetracked by urgent but less important tasks. Effective leaders stay disciplined by keeping their focus on the most critical tasks and delegating or eliminating nonessential ones.
3. Manage Your Time: Time management is essential for developing discipline. Effective leaders use their time wisely and avoid procrastination. They create a schedule and stick to it, focusing on the most critical tasks and setting aside time for self-care and reflection.
4. Stay Accountable: Being accountable to others is a powerful motivator for developing discipline. Share your goals and action plan with a trusted colleague or mentor who can help keep you accountable. Check in regularly to review progress and make adjustments as needed.
5. Practice Self-Care: Finally, it's essential to practice self-care when developing discipline. Effective leaders recognize the importance of taking care of themselves, both physically and mentally. They make time for exercise, healthy eating, and adequate sleep. They also practice mindfulness and reflection to stay focused and avoid burnout.

Discipline in practice

Discipline has been a key factor in the success of many real-life leaders across various industries. For instance, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, is known for his discipline and work ethic. He often works long hours and is highly focused on his goals, which has helped him achieve remarkable success in both of his companies.

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Another example of discipline in leadership is Oprah Winfrey, who is a highly successful media personality and businesswoman. Winfrey has said that her daily habits, such as waking up early and practicing meditation, have helped her stay focused and productive. She also sets clear goals and prioritizes her time, which has enabled her to achieve success in her career and personal life.

Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba, is another example of a leader who has achieved remarkable success through discipline. Ma is known for his strict daily routine, which includes waking up early, exercising, and reading for an hour each day. He also focuses on building strong relationships with his team and staying grounded in his values and principles.

In all these examples, discipline has been a key factor in the success of these leaders. They have developed habits and routines that help them stay focused on their goals, manage their time effectively, and avoid distractions. By prioritizing discipline, they have been able to achieve remarkable success in their careers and inspire others to do the same.

Final thoughts

Now that we've explored the importance of discipline in leadership, as well as some strategies and examples for developing discipline, it's time to take action. If you're a leader, whether in business, education, or any other field, I encourage you to reflect on how you can incorporate discipline into your own leadership practice.

Consider setting clear goals and prioritizing tasks, as well as managing your time effectively and avoiding distractions. Develop a daily routine or habits that will help you stay focused and productive, and stay accountable to yourself and others. It may take time to cultivate discipline, but the effort is worth it for the long-term benefits it can bring to your leadership practice and to those you lead.

Another important step is to lead by example. Share with your team the importance of discipline and how it can lead to greater success and productivity. Encourage them to set clear goals and prioritize tasks, and support them in developing their own habits and routines that will help them stay focused and productive.

In conclusion, developing discipline in your leadership practice can have a significant impact on your success as a leader and the success of those you lead. Take action today to develop the habits and routines that will help you stay focused and avoid distractions, and lead by example to inspire others to do the same.

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