I often listen to conversations that reveal a common misunderstanding between the words discipline and punishment. These talks also show that many are quick to side on the bank of punishment instead of pursuing the more rewarding effort of discipline.
In more than a quarter-century of armed forces service I can affirm that I never recommended punishment for anyone working under my charge. I always sided with discipline first.
The word discipline comes from the Greek root word discern, literally meaning “to learn by.”
As leaders we should all strive to live a disciplined life. Quickly making a decision to punish someone or ourselves for a mistake is a poor substitute for an opportunity to teach. It's true that punishment is necessary in some cases, I am not discussing those rare cases here. Though I will say that unless you are a parent or judge or your life is in jeopardy, it's rare that a person has the authority to punish.
Teaching (disciplining) someone that has made an honest mistake reaps tremendous dividends of loyalty. Punishing first without effort towards discipline only creates misunderstanding and confusion. Teaching is a two-way dialogue that enables both people to learn. It's a wonderfully positive experience when done with patience and mutual respect. Punishment without discipline first is a cop out.
Dr. Stephen Covey’s fifth habit for highly successful people is “Seek first to understand, then to be understood. To quickly punish someone first bypasses this important credo. If you can instill disciplined habits into your life, you can create the foundation for achieving your goals and guiding countless others to theirs.
Our world has enough negativity in it, I choose not to partake in creating more. I will endeavor to live a disciplined life because yes, it’s positive.
Think about it.
Thanks for reading. Thanks for visiting.
Copyright © 2016 Palmer Pinckney II
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