Saturday, May 30, 2009

Leadership & Self discipline

Leadership & Self discipline

One of the hallmarks of Leadership is Self Discipline.

A fantastic definition of Self Discipline is this:

"Self discipline is the ability to make yourself do
what you should do when you should do it, whether you
feel like it or not."

To lead, leaders are so committed with their visions that they make themselves do what they should do under any circumstances. The good thing about this is that leadership is a decision, is a commitment, is an attitude. Self discipline is like the horse you ride to achieve things, to move people, to communicate, to go the extra mile.
Your job is to "tame" that horse to help you achieve your goals and vision.

Another way to see self discipline is not letting your emotions or hard feelings take on you. A self disciplined person controls himself or herself, because he or she knows that only by doing the things that is committed to, is the way to achieve his or her vision.

Every Great leader has shown tons of self discipline in the key areas of their lives. Gandhi, Churchill, Thatcher, Kennedy, Luther King Jr., and so on.

Self discipline is essential to leadership, you can't pretend to be a leader, if you don't have some discipline in your life. After all, you are a model for others, and people looks for discipline in the core foundation of their leaders.

To me, discipline is the flip side of commitment. And by the way, people with high levels of self discipline most of the time have a tremendous self esteem because they're committed in all they do. They don't lose time on things they don't want. They appreciate their time,
and other's too.

Self discipline is a skill, and as such it can be learned.

LEADERSHIP ACTIONS

1.    Every time you have to do something and you don't feel in the mood, just tell yourself: If I don't this now, I'll have to do it later, and then I'll feel worse. So do not complain, and do it. One thing will
happen (i can tell by my own experience), after you finish your work,
you will feel better, you'll feel terrific, you'll feel a better person. Add up enough of these experiences and you will never look back again.

2.    Change perspective, may be you need a purpose to
do something. Then, find it. Take charge. It's your life, not others'.

3.    Be Responsible. Yes, only that, be responsible. Again it's your life. By being responsible you take control, and after that, thats what leaders do, they have the control.

Remember, Be Alert. Be A Leader :)