Self-discipline the most powerful motivation

Gene Mage

“While criticism or fear of punishment may restrain us from doing wrong, it does not make us wish to do right...The only effective discipline is self-discipline, motivated by the inner desire to act meritoriously in order to do well in one’s own eyes, according to one’s own values, so that one may feel good about oneself…” Bruno Bettelheim, Child Psychologist)

Last week we talked about agile foxes and focused hedgehogs, comparing the findings of Jim Collins’ book, Good to Great, against the Baldrige National Quality Award Criteria. Today we tackle Collins’ fifth factor, “A culture of discipline”.

Over the course of this year, I have worked closely with well over five hundred leaders in intensive learning experiences. Without exception, at least one person per session asked, “How do I motivate employees to do the right thing when I am not looking?” That, fellow learner, is the rub.

Anything we might describe as good, effective, or useful has order. And order never just “happens”, but is always imposed by force, at least according to the laws of thermodynamics. Organizations “organize”, or impose order, upon human activity to harness unfocused energy towards a worthy mission. Together, rowers pull strongly towards the finish line. Dancers perform with intricately coordinated choreography upon the stage. Musicians blend various tones and timbres into a symphony. Order and beauty are inseparable.

But how does a leader achieve order? Order can be imposed from without, or self-regulated from within. The DNA within a coconut palm self-regulates the growth and fruit bearing of the tree. It requires no supervision to accomplish its mission. Indeed, much of the order in the natural world has been “hard-wired” by the creator. But when it comes to human behavior, all bets are off.

Is there anything more perplexing than the concept of creating “order” among people? “Management” has tended to focus on methods for imposing control upon human beings through rewards and punishments. External motivators can indeed impose order, but it’s a cheap, superficial, and temporary order. When dictators are deposed their lands fall into chaos. Look at the Balkans, a region that enjoyed relative peace unified under the dictator Tito, but reverted to ancient ethnic conflicts the moment that external control was removed. Consider those kids you know who were “perfect little angels” until they went to college, and then were stunningly transformed into characters from Animal House. As long as mom, dad, and the church are present to impose external discipline little junior behaves. But as soon as those behavioral handcuffs are removed all hell breaks loose.

In leadership theory, we discover two basic schools of thought on the topic of discipline. The first, which we might call the hierarchical, military, or Taylorist model, argues that discipline can only be achieved through carefully constructed lines of authority, close supervision, and a relentless push for worker productivity. The second, sometimes called McGregor’s theory Y, Total Quality or Japanese management, encourages self-discipline by appealing to the individual’s commitment towards organizational goals, progressively expanding personal responsibility, and engaging workers in problem-solving.

Collins clearly advocates this latter model; select the right people, and lead them to do the right thing without being watched. While the Baldrige criteria do not directly address this duality, the Baldrige imperative of empowerment also demands we equip individuals with the capability and authority to solve problems without involving the chain of command. Yet the systems-focus advocated in the Baldrige, if applied in a very mechanistic way, can be overly dependent upon performance reviews, rewards, and punitive sanctions to shape behavior.

Again, we as leaders are left to choose which approach we want to use, and as a consequence get at least some level of motivation from others in return. But between you and me, wouldn’t you rather lead a team of self-motivated, self-disciplined performers who will do the right thing whether or not someone is watching, than a brood of irresponsible children who only behave when you are around?

Got a business or leadership challenge? Ask Syndicated Columnist Gene C. Mage at http://www.makingitwork.com .

For more information on Jim Collins visit http://www.jimcollins.com . For more information on the Malcom Baldrige National Quality Award, visit http://www.quality.nist.gov .