As I have been studying business cultures over the last three decades, I have found that consistent discipline has led to the most long term performance no matter the challenge. It has been best summarized in the appendix of Jim Collins monograph, Turning the Flywheel, which supplemented his classic book, Good to Great:
“True discipline requires the independence of mind to reject pressures to conform in ways incompatible with values, performance standards, and long-term aspirations. The only legitimate form of discipline is self-discipline, having the inner will to do whatever it takes to create a great outcome, no matter how difficult.
When you have disciplined people, you don’t need hierarchy.
When you have disciplined thought, you don’t need bureaucracy.
When you have disciplined action, you don’t need excessive controls.”
This quote establishes the important idea that a culture of discipline is something forced on people, it is internal within everyone a part of the culture, where each person hold themselves to common values and agreed upon standards.
Here are a few questions to think about:
- How disciplined are you to your values, and daily actions to meet objectives?
- Are your employees and team members disciplined?
- Do you believe all employees will achieve their predetermined objectives
- Do you have employees whose lack of discipline is negatively impacting your culture, causing you to create extra bureaucracy and controls?
- What behaviors can you improve to increase discipline, reduce bureaucracy, and remove excessive controls?
Jonathan Jones (Jonathan.jones@vistagechair.com or 314-608-0783) is a CEO peer group chair/coach for Vistage International.