Discipline = M + C

I was recently asked why in my latest book - Team Better Together - I refer to the ‘5 Disciplines’ of a high performing team and not the 5 ‘attributes’ or ‘strengths’ of a high performing team.

To create a culture of high performing, collaborative teams requires discipline. Talent is no guarantee of sustainable success. 

Discipline encompasses the two core elements, motivation and commitment which when paired, distinguish high performing teams.  

Discipline = M + C

Motivation speaks to the team’s ambitions and aspirations. It's the energy that drives a team to achieve and become more than the sum of its parts. Motivation fuels the team’s purpose – their WHY.

Commitment is the force that drives a momentum of action. It invokes team member’s actions to move towards achieving their ambitions and aspirations. Commitment fuels the team’s impact – their WHAT.

To transition to become more of a high performing team, teams need to assess their motivations and ask:

• What do we as a team want to become and achieve?

• Why is this important?

• How will it matter to others?

Then identify the team’s commitments:

• What will we do?

• How will we assess our progress?

• How will we know we’ve succeeded?

Motivation without commitment is like treading water – it gets a team nowhere. Commitment without motivation feels like pointless effort.