How to Improve Your Wellbeing With Discipline®

Below are audio and video plus a transcript of the conversation, including time stamps.

Your CliftonStrengths^® can empower the 5 elements of your wellbeing -- career, social, financial, community and physical. But how does this happen if you are struggling in one or more of these elements? If you have Discipline, Appendix 1 of Gallup's Wellbeing at Work book has Strengths Insights and Action Items that can move you from struggling to thriving as you apply your Discipline talent to fuel your wellbeing. Join Jaclynn Robinson and Jim Collison on this CliftonStrengths Podcast to discover how.

For the career [wellbeing] piece, this person [with Discipline] is good at building structure for themselves and the group. They will thrive when you put them in roles where they can create order out of chaos.

Jaclynn Robinson, 4:11 Jaclynn Robinson, 2:22

When other folks are desiring flexibility or even time to just brainstorm and ideate, letting the individual with Discipline know that's what the plan is will help them be in the moment.

Jaclynn Robinson, 9:38

Jim Collison 0:00
I am Jim Collison, and welcome to the CliftonStrengths Podcast. On this podcast, we'll be covering topics such as wellbeing, teamwork, professional development and more. Now enjoy this episode.

Jim Collison 0:14
In this CliftonStrengths Podcast, we look at the Strengths Insight and Action Planning items from Appendix 1 in the Gallup book Wellbeing at Work one theme at a time, and today's theme is Discipline. If you're listening live, love you have to join us in our chat room. There's just a link, a link right above me there. Or if you have questions, you're listening to the podcast, and you have questions, you can always send us an email: coaching@gallup.com. Dr. Jaclynn Robinson is our host today. She works as a Gallup Learning and Development Consultant and was the primary contributor in Appendix 1 in the Wellbeing at Work book. And Jaclynn, I think that's the best-kept secret in the book. Welcome back to Called to Coach!

Jaclynn Robinson 0:49
Thank you. We get to talk Discipline today. I'm so excited!

What's the definition of Discipline?

Jim Collison 0:52
We do. It's gonna be great. Let's, let's start with the definition. What's, what is our definition of Discipline?

Jaclynn Robinson 0:58
People that lead with Discipline enjoy routine and structure. Their world, as they see it, is best described by the order that they get to create.

Jim Collison 1:07
How does that relate to you? And then how does that relate to others?

Jaclynn Robinson 1:11
Yeah, if I think about how it relates to the person that leads with it, you probably find that the world around you tends to function a lot more smoothly when you can preplan and coordinate your day ahead of time. There's nothing like a good planner. We were talking about this a little bit in the preshow, but those high in Discipline tend to like planners. But predictability helps really keep their world efficient. And when obstacles do arise, with a little bit of prep time just to look over really the lay of the land and the territory, it can be back to business again. How it relates to others, I would say, is that people can count on this person to create efficiency, whether it's the family household, social plans and even on teams, as they can really keep people on task and ensure that plans and responsibilities are pulled off smoothly.

How does Discipline look when it's thriving vs. struggling?

Jim Collison 1:58
I just have a lot of respect for Discipline. It's one of those, one of those themes that just is a very, it's a huge benefit to me. And I'm kind of drawn or attracted to it. I just like being around it. I'm not it, but I love being around it. As we think about Discipline in the context of wellbeing, though -- in this series, we're thinking through these from a wellbeing lens -- what does it look like thriving, and what does it look like struggling?

Jaclynn Robinson 2:21
I think thriving, this person is in an environment where there's predictability or where they have leeway to build in structure for themselves. When there's a day-to-day routine, it's a lot easier for this individual to build in time to tackle, really all 5 elements of wellbeing. They're able to structure that into their day or into their week. Struggling, on the other hand, is in an ever-, I would say, an ever-changing environment, where it just seems like every day is slightly different than the last. That lack of structure creates difficulty in feeling level-headed; it can leave you feeling a little bit discombobulated. And it makes it more difficult to build in time for wellbeing, just constantly shifting gears.

Jim Collison 3:03
Yeah, we think of, and, and I use the word "consistency" with a small "c," as opposed to Consistency as the theme, but, but I think oftentimes, Discipline loves that consistent look or that consistent feel or that consistent experience, for both themselves and for others. And so those changes can create a little bit of that, the angst, the turmoil in that -- "I can't get this consistent." And so make, and of course, it's been the, you know, the last 2 years have been the most stable 2 years we've had in the globe. So those, those with Discipline may be may be struggling. And of course, those who do have Discipline, I mean, if you're feeling like your wellbeing is going well, share that with others, because there, there may be others struggling in this that, that aren't showing it. We, in the back of the book in Appendix 1, there's some best practices, an example where we take the, this, this theme and talk about it in the context of one of our 5 pillars of wellbeing. We have a, we've got one for you now. Jaclynn, what'd you pick for us today?

Jaclynn Robinson 4:08
I picked career wellbeing. So for the career piece, this person is good at building structure for themselves and the group. They will thrive when you put them in roles where they can create order out of chaos. Given the last 2 years, that felt like a pretty applicable one to pull from. And sometimes you don't think about that. Chaos can be disconcerting, but there's a thrill and enjoyment that can come from creating order out of it.

For those with Discipline, how can it be used to support others?

Jim Collison 4:34
Yeah, I think for me, Arranger-Maximizer was this idea of creating order out of chaos. It kind of looked like or wanted to be like Discipline; it's not. And so I'm not. But it always, I love that. I think even as it plays, we'll talk a little bit about this here in a minute is, is its place on a team. And I think it's super valuable in that area. So we, of course, have the 4 other elements back in Appendix 1, If you want to get some, especially for our coaches, there's some great concepts in there that you can talk with those that you're coaching about that in the back of the book Wellbeing at Work. So, Jaclynn, with Discipline, I think it's really important we understand how this can help and support others. And so how can we do that?

Jaclynn Robinson 5:18
If you are managing or leading a team, you can help bring stability and structure, which can help the team feel like they're on stable ground. So they can count on this person to stick to the agenda, to start and stop meetings on time, and to be well organized and structured with goals. If you are on a team, this person with high Discipline can bring group efficiency. So before the work begins, they can start to divvy out tasks and deadlines and really just check in to see if everyone has what they need to carry out the task. And then otherwise, as the project proceeds, they can keep, you know, folks on track during those check-in meetings.

Jaclynn Robinson 5:52
Last but not least, if this is you as an individual, I would say your natural aptitude for creating a schedule for yourself can benefit you when you really start to recognize that maybe an element of wellbeing has been off. You can start to think about, Where can I find room in my day-to-day to focus for a few minutes on my financial wellbeing or for an hour on my physical wellbeing? But just taking a moment to reflect for yourself can help you check in and go, OK, out of all the 5 elements, would I give myself a 5 out of 5 on all of these, or is there one that's missing? You have the power and that structure to be able to build it into your schedule.

Jim Collison 6:30
Yeah, and maybe if you haven't, think about it through a structured framework to be like -- and many already, you know, they've got there already. But that may be, if you're struggling in those areas with high Discipline, add that to your already set-up Discipline routines, whatever those. Whatever those might be, take, maybe take from one of those and model it in that way. I think one of the things for us un-Disciplined folks -- and there's a few in the chat room as we're talking about this -- as we think about our managers, I think one of the things we can do is honor that. Is, in a way, you mentioned the word like, you know, being on time or, you know, actually doing the thing that we said we'd do, right? Just some Responsibility sprinkled in there. But those two -- Discipline and Responsibility -- go together; 33, 34 for me.

Jim Collison 7:15
So, but I think there's an opportunity to honor those folks and make an attempt to be on time, right, to make an attempt. And that's, that's honoring that theme; that is saying, "I see it in you and I know you need it." I think sometimes we take that approach like, "Aah, those Discipline people. Like why do they always -- you know, why can't they just relax?" Well, because that's what makes them great. You know? I'll honor that. And then I think on a team, like you were mentioning, I think we can identify that early in team settings, and then just lean into that. I have made a living off of leaning into somebody else's Discipline -- just saying, "Help me!" Because they're willing to. They love it. Right. They're like, "Oh, yeah!"

Jaclynn Robinson 7:55
Like, Ooh -- planning, structure! Let's do it!

Jim Collison 7:57
I'll help keep you accountable. That's always super cool. So I think there's some great ways, as we think about on a, being on a team, leading with it in a team and also from an individual standpoint, Jaclynn, in Appendix 2, we have a framework to work through with each one, with each one of these elements. Again, a great framework and a great resource, coaches, for you to use. Walk us through that framework a little bit. Very, very simple.

Jaclynn Robinson 8:21
All right, so Ask Yourself: "Looking ahead to my day, what gives me the most energy?" Ask Your Team Members: "How do our work areas and schedules support our physical wellbeing goals?" And then Take Action: Build in short physical wellbeing breaks throughout the day to avoid long periods of sedentary time. So given this person with Discipline, pulling those just felt unique and like something that they could build in.

Jim Collison 8:49
Yeah, again, appreciating those. Like, I don't know if we had this conversation. I was talking with somebody today, and I was like, "I feel like I've been sitting in this chair for 3 days straight." I don't think I've moved. I think I slept here.

Jaclynn Robinson 9:02
Your Apple watch is screaming at you. Get up!

Jim Collison 9:05
Are you alive? Yeah, have you died in that chair? And I kind of do need, I mean, this is one of those areas with, where being affected by not being at work, I kind of miss that, being able to lean into that Discipline of others to get it done. And so, so appreciate it and having that set up. And there's some things I think I can do to help replace that. But man, I really appreciate Discipline on this. As we get ready to wrap this, anything else you'd kind of add?

Jaclynn Robinson 9:36
The only other piece I would add is when other folks are desiring flexibility or even time to just brainstorm and ideate, letting the individual with Discipline know that's what the plan is will help them be in the moment. Sometimes there's this idea of rigidity, because of that structure and predictability that those high in Discipline like to have. But letting them know ahead of time can really just help them go, OK, I know what we're here for. Or let me block time, knowing that I'm not going to be in control of that time. And then that also helps someone high in Discipline. So just a couple of tips if you don't have it, and you're working with those with it, and you need a little bit more flexibility in the moment.

Jim Collison 10:20
Thank you so much for listening to today's episode of the CliftonStrengths Podcast. Make sure you like and subscribe wherever you listen, so you never miss an episode. And if you're really enjoying this podcast, please leave a review. This helps us promote strengths globally.

Jaclynn Robinson's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are Achiever, Strategic, Maximizer, Positivity and Relator.

Gallup^®, CliftonStrengths^® and each of the 34 CliftonStrengths theme names are trademarks of Gallup. Copyright © 2000 Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved.