Are you a planner, structured, deadline-meeter who dislikes, even hates surprises and last-minute changes? You may have the Discipline CliftonStrengths talent theme in your top 5 talent themes. People with a high-ranking Discipline talent thrive with structure. If there is chaos in their environment they work hard to bring order. They themselves tend to be organized, disciplined, and routine-oriented. It is only natural then that they seek to bring these valuable traits to others. Read more about this amazing talent…
Life tends to move fast and often in chaotic and messy ways. Those messes are more readily handled when there are routines, standards, systems, and protocols in place to respond to them. Let’s be honest, structure is important. In structured environments, productivity is maximized. Goals are met. Things are done efficiently. But you already knew that. Those of you with high-ranking Discipline know this and live by it. You thrive in structured, organized environments.
In team environments, people with a high-ranking Discipline talent are able to break down complex situations and create efficient processes. They are adept at scheduling and prioritizing. If you lead someone with this talent be sure to provide clear parameters and measurable goals and deadlines. They will thank you for it and reward you with excellent work. They can also provide those same things to others on the team.
For those of you with Discipline in your top 5, it is important to remember that not everyone feels the same need for structure and routine that you have. There may be times when structure and routine are the last things needed in a situation. No problem, just make sure you schedule time for non-scheduled time! That said, if you are presented with or considering a job with very little structure, routine, or clarity you may want to pass. Don’t set yourself up for failure and frustration.
Marriage tip: If your spouse has a high-ranking Discipline talent, schedule sex. I know, it sounds boring and unexciting but… trust me. If you have Discipline in your top 5 and your spouse does not, schedule sex – but don’t tell your spouse! To your spouse it is a surprise but in your heart you will know…
Back to business.
Be nice to yourself. You are organized, structured, and efficient, and you are not perfect. When you make mistakes or things don’t go as planned, don’t beat yourself up. Create a routine of giving yourself grace and embracing your humanness. For that matter, what is your subroutine when your “operating system” for life crashes?
Here are some other words that often describe people with high-ranking Discipline:
- Reliable
- Timely
- Exact
- Neat
- Precise
- Diligent
- Productive
If you are one of the lucky few who possess this rarer talent theme in your top 5, what can you do to strengthen this talent this week? If you don’t have a time-management process that works well for you, you might research that. Maybe journal about your desire, even need to feel in control and the way your Discipline talent helps you. Think about and develop your subroutines for those times when Plan A falls apart?
CliftonStrengths” and the 34 CliftonStrengths theme names are registered trademarks of Gallup, Inc. The graphic elements copyright © CoreClarity, Inc.