Discipline: Routine Advantages

One of us has the advantage of Discipline on their side for our group Fitness Challenge - and it is not me! 

Today is the day I have been looking forward to.  Another start to a fitness challenge at work.  History tells me that the best way for me to focus on weight loss and shed a few pounds before the summer is to participate in one of these competitions. I credit my Achiever talent theme (#5) which provides me the drive to achieve any goal.  Did I mention I have been in a several of these competitions before?  While my Achiever is constantly in full-gear, Discipline is another matter entirely.

For me, Discipline is what the folks at Gallup StrengthsFinder would call a "non-talent"; ranking at #31 out of 34 talent themes.   I am not alone.  In fact, Discipline is one of the rarest talent themes to appear in any top 5 ranking.  Many more Americans have Adaptability (see "Omaha" blog") than Discipline.  We'd rather go with the flow and manage life as it comes than live a life with plan and structure.  That includes eating whatever is available (Adaptability) versus planning to have healthy choices on-hand and sticking to a routine (Discipline).  Our lack of Discipline has resulted in a nation where most adults are overweight and the weight loss industry pulls in over $66 billion a year.   

I began to think how great it would be to have Discipline as a top talent, especially for this fitness challenge.  People with Discipline love structure and instinctively know how to find ways to organize their lives.  In a fitness challenge - or any challenge - they would create a plan and then break it into a series of short term steps and then follow those steps diligently.  They find ways to organize themselves to get things done and meet deadlines. Following routines, developing timelines and creating structure are pathways to excellence for people with Discipline.   

Interestingly, everyone in this fitness challenge has taken the StrengthsFinder assessment and one - Angel Vasquez pictured above (r) - has Discipline as a top 5 signature talent theme.  I'll be keeping my eye on him.   

In addition to leveraging my Achiever talent for this challenge, I will lean hard into my Responsibility talent theme as well.  While people with Discipline are driven by committing to a plan, people with Responsibility are driven by committing to others.  You are my others.  I am committing to do my best during this challenge and I will report my final results in 60 days. I will also stay away from the new Voodoo Doughnut location that just opened at Universal's CityWalk!  

Other than winning fitness challenges, here are some ways that people with the talent of Discipline demonstrate it in the workplace;

* A person with Discipline does not like chaos or disorganization.  They won't rest until order is restored.  They would be perfectly cast to help evaluate or create standard operating procedures so that routine and structure can be achieved.  

* People with a signature theme of Discipline will benefit from a detailed understanding of what is expected of them and what is expected of others around them.  They often feel the need to get things done ahead of schedule and they have a difficult time doing this if they don't know what is expected.
  

* The ordered and structured approach that people with Discipline deliver is a great fit for new projects or new work teams.  They bring a stability and predictability that is welcomed in the face of change.  

Dan is currently serving 20 years to life as the Sr. Director of Destination Experiences at Universal Orlando Resort.  He prefers white-water rapids over data lakes and lists Ideation, Futuristic and Positivity amongst his signature talents.