Self Discipline

Self-discipline is an important skill for leaders to possess in order to effectively manage their responsibilities and accomplish their goals. Leaders require self-discipline to resist distractions, maintain focus on tasks, and see projects through to completion. Practicing self-discipline signals priorities to employees and shows that leaders are committed to their work. Leaders can improve their self-discipline by setting goals, taking breaks, removing distractions, making time for decision making, delegating tasks, and practicing mindfulness meditation.

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Self Discipline

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bc harish

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SELF-DISCIPLINE IN THE WORKPLACE

GREAT LEADERS EXERCISE SELF-DISCIPLINE

I think self-discipline is something, it’s like a muscle. The more you
exercise it, the stronger it gets.
– Daniel Goldstein

In general, leaders are required to juggle responsibilities. These

responsibilities can include managing others, delegating work, engaging
in problem solving or conflict resolution, and working on their own tasks
and goals. With competing priorities, it can be difficult for a leader to find
an unbroken block of time to focus their attention on any given task.
Self-discipline is the ability to resist impulses, maintain focus, and see
projects through to completion. It is categorized by a leader’s persistence
and willpower in dedicating their attention to a task until it is
satisfactorily finished. Leaders who are high on self-discipline are not
easily distracted, and can maintain concentration despite other priorities
or requirements for their attention.

Self-discipline at work not only allows leaders to give their full attention
to the task at hand, but research has also shown that leaders with a
strong sense of self-control and persistence are more likely to be
diligent1 and engaged in their work2. In addition, setting aside dedicated
time to work on certain tasks shows direct reports two things: first, it
signals the kinds of tasks or projects that are of priority to their leaders,
and second, it indicates that their leaders are willing and able to roll up
their sleeves and commit themselves to their work. Not only is self-
discipline an effective tool for leaders looking to accomplish more work
each day, but it can be motivating for employees who follow the example
set by their leader.

In assessing your level of self-discipline, ask yourself the following

questions:
 Am I setting myself goals for what I want to accomplish each day?
 Do I take breaks throughout the day?
 Have I taken steps to limit the distractions and temptations that
hinder my progress?
 Do I give myself a reasonable amount of time to complete tasks?
 Am I effectively delegating work and decision-making where
possible?
 Am I mindful in my day-to-day work routine?
Improve Your Self-Discipline
Remember the rules of motivation: There are a few tips from the
motivation and goal setting literature that can help you improve your
persistence at work.

First, where possible, set your own goals. They

should be large enough that achieving the goal creates a sense of
accomplishment, but small enough that they are realistic and achievable.
Breaking a large goal into smaller, more manageable pieces can help
sustain your motivation over time. If you have a goal that is personally
interesting and motivating, you will find it easier to direct your attention
and time toward accomplishing this goal. When you successfully
complete a goal, either small and large, be sure to take the time to
reward your efforts. The cycle of setting meaningful goals, working
toward these goals, and celebrating your successes can sustain your
motivation and interest in your tasks, and help you maintain focus and
effort for longer periods of time.

Take frequent breaks: Self-discipline is like a muscle. We

can grow and improve our strength with practice, but we can also grow
tired, and find our ability to remain in control exhausted. The more we
use our self-control in a day, the more we find this resource depletes4.
Fortunately, as with our muscles, taking a break from your work is a
simple strategy to regain that lost discipline and focus. Not only should
we schedule regular breaks, taking time to step away from desks or
computers, but leaders should schedule breaks that are appropriate to
the work they tackle each day. For example, if you notice that certain
tasks leave you drained or tired, consider scheduling this task at a time
where you can immediately follow it with a long break or with work that
requires little active self-control. Try to keep track of how your tasks
make you feel. Doing this will allow you to more effectively schedule your
time to get the most out of your day and your self-control. Remember,
the kinds of tasks that a leader finds particularly challenging or
exhausting will differ across individuals, so your schedule for work and
subsequent breaks should be personal to your own needs and interests.

Remove temptations and distractions: Like many

skills, self-discipline is best improved with frequent practice. It is a
learned behavior, not an inherent ability, that we can train ourselves to
engage in it more often. One of the best ways to set yourself up for
success is to remove the things that you find distract you from your work.
This may look different across individuals. For some, shutting the door to
their office may be enough to help sustain their attention. For others,
silencing emails, turning off cell phones, or blocking tempting websites
are better strategies to maintaining focus. To begin the process of
eliminating distractions, go about your day as you normally would. Every
time your attention is taken from your task, make a note of what
distracted you. Over a few days, you will see patterns or categories of
distractions emerge, and identifying these will help you decide how to
avoid them. Remember, changing how you work will take time, so be
patient as you eliminate distractions from your work day – competing
priorities and urgent tasks are often a fact of life for leaders, and
sometimes, distractions will be inevitable. Self-discipline will help you
maintain your focus in the face of nonessential interruptions.
Start Doing These 3 Things Now to Increase Self-Discipline
The following steps can help you increase your self-control in the
workplace:

Make time to make decisions. Decision-making is one

of those tasks that often fall exclusively on to leaders. This includes
everything from choosing how to allocate resources, focusing the
priorities of your unit, and assigning work to each employee. Research
has shown that decision-making is a tiring task, and that leaders find it
difficult to retain self-control and focus after making important
decisions5. Treat decision-making as any other task: give yourself an
appropriate amount of time to focus on making the right choice as well
as to recover from any stress that may result from this task. Forcing
yourself to make important decisions while balancing other priorities will
only ensure that you feel overwhelmed, contributes to low self-control.

Reduce the load. While decision-making may often fall to

leaders, delegation is an important tool in preventing yourself from
becoming overloaded. Where possible, have your employees aid in
decision making, either by gathering more information that will help you
to make correct choices, or by offering their opinions and expertise. Not
only does this reduce the amount of effort required from a leader, the
literature also suggests that participation in some decision-making can
improve the long-term self-discipline and motivation in employees5.
Delegating some of the work that goes into decision-making can be
mutually beneficial for yourself and your employees.

Practice mindful meditation. Mindfulness meditation

is gaining popularity within the world of work, and is often suggested as
a solution to a host of organizational problems. However, good
mindfulness training helps you to improve your focus by learning to
concentrate on a fixed point, such as your breath, while letting emotions
or thoughts pass by without effecting you. Daily mediation can have
various positive effects for leaders, but in the case of self-discipline,
individual mindfulness practice reduces impulsivity, helping you to retain
your focus and control throughout the day6. SIGMA offers an 8-week
online guided mindfulness mediation course that can help you develop
your skills in mindfulness, and thus helping to improve your self-
discipline at work.