A Culture Of Discipline In Turbulent Times

by Jonathan Jones

Organizations that survive and even thrive during times of adversity usually have a culture of discipline. This culture of discipline is evident before a crisis and helps them to survive challenges when others fail.

Discipline is needed in cultures now--even more than it has in less turbulent times. Expect significant challenges in the coming year. The virus that started this 2020 pandemic was named COVID-19 because it was identified in 2019. It will continue to effect us in 2020 and have lasting effects into 2021 and beyond. I would encourage you to accept that life will not go back to normal. There will not be a “new normal,” but whatever is “normal” will evolve--just as it has done after every major crisis in the past.

The economic and cultural impact of COVID-19 will cause turbulence in 2020. Some will be good, and some will be bad. Lead your culture through a disciplined methodology. Start by assessing where you are now.

Reassess your priorities. Focus on what you can control. Keep focused on your long-term strategic goals and safety (physical, psychological, and financial). Communicate your objectives to all team members.

Maintain your core disciplines, whether they are standard processes, weekly scorecards, or quarterly strategic executive meetings. Continue what has worked in the past. Stop doing what does not work.

Commit to a disciplined change-management process. Changes should be made to adjust to the challenges we are facing. Without a standard change-management methodology, positive changes will be forgotten, and bad habits could creep into the culture from a lack of discipline.

Finally, when you make a commitment, keep it. Expect everyone else to do the same. As the leaders of your culture, everyone looks to you to lead and to be disciplined.

Jonathan Jones (Jonathan.jones@vistagechair.com or 314-608-0783) is a CEO peer group chair/coach for Vistage International.