About the Integrated Leadership Disciplines™

Professional athletes who have enjoyed long careers will tell you that one of their secrets of success is their steadfast commitment to exercising an integrated set of disciplines that produce greater stamina, agility, strength, energy, and competitive longevity. We have repeatedly observed a significant parallel in leaders who consistently achieve their professional and personal goals by exercising a set of integrated disciplines, which enables them to thrive on a sustainable basis. We refer to the disciplines of Discernment, Alignment, Execution, and Balance as the Integrated Leadership Disciplines™

Exercising these disciplines in an integrated, not an independent, way is the key to experiencing sustainable success.

When you combine the disciplines of discernment and execution you begin to experience success. When you combine the disciplines of alignment and balance you begin to experience the effects of sustainability.

Successful leaders know that exercising discernment and execution alone will not yield sustainable results because they understand that poor alignment and imbalance wear down the organization while depleting valuable resources. However, when leaders exercise these four leadership disciplines in an integrated and consistent way, they succeed without exhausting or depleting vital resources; they thrive on a sustainable basis.

Discernment enables leaders to determine the best path for the business by answering the critical questions of why, how, what, who, where, and when; i.e. mission, vision, core values, and strategy. Once you have a clear picture of your game plan, you can then align resources in ways that best achieve your intended results.

Alignment is the discipline of lining up resources and operating structures to best achieve the “why, how, what, who, where, and when.” When the behaviors of your associates don’t match your organization’s core values or mission, or when your systems or corporate structure get in the way of taking care of your customers, you have an alignment problem.  Through this discipline you ensure that expectations are clearly communicated to everyone in your organization and that everyone has the appropriate training and resources needed to meet those expectations. Successful leaders know that exercising this discipline is critical for facilitating effective and efficient execution.

Execution without discernment and alignment is like getting your car stuck in the mud—the engine is revving and the wheels are spinning and you’re stressing, but the car isn’t moving! Conversely, as Thomas Edison said, “Vision without execution is hallucination.” Through this discipline you ensure that agreed-upon steps are consistently being taken to move the organization forward, results are routinely measured, and everyone is being held accountable for meeting expectations. Successful leaders know that the effective combination of alignment and execution creates a positive and motivating corporate climate.

Balance is your greatest antidote to career burnout, poor health, and failed personal relationships. Without a balanced life you cannot thrive in a holistic or sustainable manner. “Balance is not about achieving equilibrium between your professional and personal life, but about finding that healthy blend that works for each individual; with balance comes the ability to change the ’blend’ as seasons of life change,” writes Rania Anderson. The most critical resource available to you 24/7 is YOU! Therefore, you have to use this vital resource in a manner that preserves it.

Leaders and their organizations can thrive on a sustainable basis if they have the discipline to do so. But no one said it was going to be easy. Just ask the professional athlete who has remained competitive deep into his or her career. Are you leadership-fit? If not, we can help.