Discipline : the hallmark of efficiency | Sunday Observer

Discipline : the hallmark of efficiency

9 July, 2017
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Whether you are the CEO of a large conglomerate or the general of an army, discipline is a serious issue that no good leader will want to take lightly. At some point, someone in your organization will not follow rules or guidelines. Making the right decision in such a situation, will make the difference between success and failure.

You must properly discipline those who break rules, for the health of your organization. However, properly disciplining your followers is easier said than done. It is a delicate issue that you should manage intelligently.

Keep the right distance

If you are too close to employees, you may find it difficult to take action against someone in your team who has broken the rules or violated policies. For example, if someone is constantly being late, despite warnings issued, you must make a decision quickly without allowing it to set a bad precedent by default.

Strong bond

First, a leader should never get too close to any of his followers. While you have to create a strong bond with the entire team, there are certain dangers involved in becoming too friendly with any one person for reasons other than sheer performance. There is a danger that such a person may begin to think that he can break rules and get away with it. Unfortunately, this happens all too often. If a business leader fails to discipline an individual because of a close relationship with him, other members of the team will begin to notice the treatment, and become resentful.

If they feel that one person can get away with anything, they will think they could do the same.

Rules

No one should be above the rules, not even the leader. If they do wrong, they should be given the same punishment that is meted out to employees. This creates a fair environment where everyone feels equal.

However, how you discipline your followers is important. You need not be too harsh if it is not necessary.

If you are harsh, your followers will fear you. You should never long for your followers to fear you. You should expect them to respect you.

You shouldn’t discipline your followers in a way that makes them resentful. They should understand why they are being disciplined and what value discipline creates for the business and vise versa.

Explain to them what can happen when they don’t follow rules - show them the negative implications on the entire operation.

It is never a good idea to discipline out of anger or deal with such issues or people with emotions.

Leadership

Being a leader can be stressful, as the decisions you make will have an effect on the lives of the people who follow you. However, you shouldn’t discipline your followers too lightly either. If you do, it will send a message that you are a weak leader who is not serious about employees following rules.

Make sure that you discipline them in a way that will earn their respect. All employees should embrace and live by an equal amount of discipline. No one should ever receive more than the other.

Even the leader shouldn’t be exempt. When an organization is setup like this, it will succeed, because everyone will work at the same level of efficiency. Great leaders should not desire to rule by fear, but should always rule by respect.

Fulfilling relationships are very important for everyone. But there are significant differences between being professionals and friends, and being professional friends.

Professionalism is key to any relationship in the workplace. Your life outside of work should be considered fully separate from your life at the office.

It would be very easy to side with your friend in a dispute, but as a manager, you need to hear both sides during employee conflicts. Don’t get too close to someone so that you can’t remain unbiased. Building a high performance organization is not an easy task, yet an endless, critical business need to succeed. All employees should be treated equally. No one should ever be disciplined more than the others. Even the leader shouldn’t be exempt. When an organization is setup like this, it will succeed, because everyone will work on the same level.

Great leaders should not desire to rule by creating fear, but should always rule by respect.

The leader should mirror the behaviour and level of discipline he would want his subordinates to embrace. In the modern environment, there is no better way to make people accountable and obligated. Don’t we lack leadership discipline as a country cutting across every field? Don’t we all agree that a correction here is a must to take the country forward? 

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