The Scenario: Circumstances call for you to exercise your Personal Authority – which is the most appropriate response strategy?
Using FORCE on yourself or others is akin to bulldozing around dirt in the expectation of digging a well and finding water.
Insight: The fuel of FORCE is often fear, which unfortunately constrains free and innovative thinking. So you will get an outcome, but perhaps not of the kind or quality that you expect. And since feelings of pressure & discomfort frequently accompany FORCE, you risk the types of outcomes one gets from being inflexible.
Applying DISCIPLINE to yourself or others is like making the calculated choice to dig a well where there’s water below.
Insight: The fuel of DISCIPLINE is motivation of success. So you’re likely to get the results you expected. Even if the task before you is tough or even unpleasant, when you are exercising the freedom to do or be your best under the circumstances, DISCIPLINE delivers results. And more to the point, it can foster an environment of creative freedom, innovative thinking and maneuverability.
The Takeaway: Keep in mind that the fundamental difference between FORCE and DISCIPLINE lies in their fuel; it really is a matter of choosing to rely on positive or negative emotion. So stay mindful of which fuel you are choosing and why, and you’ll know exactly what types of outcome to expect.