Discipline in the Time of COVID-19

Were you a disciplined person prior to the pandemic?  As an individual, did you regularly exercise, eat healthy, and keep on top of that regular car and home maintenance tasks?  As a senior leader, did you regularly conduct strategic planning, set objectives and goals, establish timetables, and develop action plans to achieve them?  Were you committed to leadership development and the engagement of your workforce to allow them to thrive for their own benefit as well as the benefit of your organization?  Did you have your finger on the pulse of your customers and other key stakeholders?  Did you track how your competitors were doing?  Have you lost some of that discipline?

To quote Dr. Phil, “How’s that working out for you?”

I confess that I’ve struggled to maintain discipline in all areas of my life during this pandemic.  I’ve always been a compulsive list-maker and still am, but I no longer feel much angst if tasks get transferred from one list to another.  Things with deadlines get attended to, and the deadlines are met.  But other tasks that should get done, get left untouched.  I wondered if a lack of urgency was undermining my usual discipline.

The three 2021 Baldrige Award Recipients were all repeat winners, one even winning its third award.  What was their motivation to pursue excellence during the midst of a pandemic when they seemingly had nothing left to prove?  How did they find the discipline to not only maintain but improve and innovate during this anything-but-normal time?  Some common themes emerged from these three award recipients:

–  Focusing on purpose, mission, vision, and values remained paramount

–  Taking a longer-term view through strategic planning was key to creating constancy of purpose.   “Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.”  — Alan Lakein

–  Reinforcing your organizational culture requires intentional action and communication, especially with some or all of your workforce working remotely.

–  Promoting innovation is key to sustainability.

–  Leveraging strategic advantages, core competencies, and systematic processes promote agility and resilience in uncertain times.

If you’re faltering at maintaining your leadership discipline, which of these areas could help you and your organization get back on track in the pursuit of excellence?  As Lao Tzu said, “Every journey begins with a single step.”  We just need to commit to taking that first one.

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