Looking back AT the topics I’ve covered in this column over the past few years, the word “discipline” probably occurred more frequently than any other. No individual, company, organisation or country ever achieved greatness without discipline. But the word conveys a double meaning, doesn’t it? When used as an adjective, like Paddy O’Brien did when he said that Jake White had brought discipline to the Springboks, it was positive and signified a team where members have the opportunity to learn, where they know and agree with the rules, they respect their colleagues from the most junior to the most senior, they are secure and understand their roles and know that they have the support of their teammates.
They know the consequences of stepping out of line, everyone in the team is subject to the same rules and whatever happens, they know they will be treated fairly. I n a disciplined, well-lead team, morale is high and everyone pulls their weight. There’s an air of tolerance, loyalty and cooperation and everyone is treated with respect and dignity.
There’s no backbiting or finger-pointing; no bitching and moaning. With a team like this, one can move mountains. When used as a verb “to discipline”, it means to punish, chastise, penalise, castigate, reprove, rebuke or reprimand, which is negative and an unpleasant experience for both the person delivering it and receiving it. when there are members behaving in a manner that threatens the performance of the team, it’s a tool we have to use.
However, handle with care – if you choose the wrong tool and apply it badly, it can do more harm than good, but that’s a topic for another day. Let’s first consider why some teams come adrift: discipline in the first place boils down to leadership. Regrettably, our present government and ruling party provide some bad examples. Jacob Zuma, our president-in-waiting, faces charges of corruption; our police chief, Jackie Selebi, was suspended for nefarious activities and judge president John Hlope is facing charges regarding his own lack of integrity and honesty.
If you were a loyal and hard-working manager in government, what chance would you have of building a disciplined dream team when your leaders behaved like this? When you become a manager, no matter how small your team, the example you set is the foundation on which you will build success. f you arrive at work late, how can you discipline others who do the same? If you arrive at work with alcohol on your breath, how do you stop others from doing the same? you’re not scrupulously honest, how can you apply discipline to dishonest members of your team? When you move into a management position, you lose all freedom to sometimes behave like a fool.
Misguided people sometimes seem to think that as they climb the ladder, they have more freedom to do as they wish. But of course, the opposite is true. As a leader, the example you set will have more impact on your future success than anything else you do. – Peter Hughes ([email protected] or call (013) 745 7303). |fw
