Discipline: An Introduction
Discipline is defined as the control that is gained by enforcing obedience or command. Moreover, it is also conceptualized as a training that corrects, shapes or perfects the mental departments in the moral character of an individual. A person who has discipline has self-control. Disciplining the children ensures that one is bringing them up and behave well or punishing them or correcting them. The impact of the word discipline offers great clues and on the current meaning. In the ancient French meaning of descepline, it refers to suffering or punishment while the Latin meaning of disciplina means learning or teaching (Mihm and Kemal 45). The old version of discipline refers to a branch of knowledge or a field of study that relates to etymology. Developing discipline in an individual means there are more than a form of training or a military concept that is more than five hundred years old.
Discipline as a Field of Knowledge
Discipline may also refer to a branch of knowledge besides the trait of behaving well. For instance, in what discipline is his doctorate? This meaning of discipline refers a knowledge domain. An example to this attached to this meaning is, “The scientific study and information by the chemists and the imaging the scientists have made contributions to the discipline of archeology in historical studies”. The meaning of discipline, which means punishing so as to gain control or enforce obedience as a verb ensures correcting or sorting out by inflicting a punishment or a sanction has the bigger meaning in the definition of discipline (Brady and Stolzer n.p). It means inflicting pain on individuals so as to mend their ways or bring them to the correct stand. For instance, “The teacher disciplines the students frequently”.
The Virtue of Self-Discipline
The virtue of self-discipline is used as a term related to discipline, meaning meeting goals or target which have been set. It helps individuals not to quit and remain glued to achieving the objectives. For instance, if one sets a goal of reading a book which is 500 pages long, one works to ensure they read a chapter a week and accomplish a certain goal for them. If one has a high standard for something they are aiming at, they will develop a positive attitude and work towards ensuring they achieve their goals. If individuals have high standards, they will discipline themselves and perform better in activities such as learning or asking for help where they can memorize and become better in the area they intend to improve (Mihm and Kemal 48). Teachers, firefighters, and policemen set for themselves goals, which makes them work hard to be where they are now. They study hard and discipline themselves to read many behavioral perspectives and ways of achieving their goals.
The Hot Stove Rule and Progressive Discipline
The Hot Stove rule depicts that the principle of discipline should act like a hot stove in giving clear indications on warnings and follow-ups that are consistent with the objectives and the immediate outcome. The principle of the hot stove helps individuals shun away from the non-productive activities as a warning or indicator which will make them desist from certain activities or behavior. The progressive discipline refers to a formal discipline where consequences are more serious if the employees repeat an offense. In the perspective of the business set up, organizations look for strategies that address a particular problem behavior which is effective, fair and legal (Brady and Stolzer n.p). The common principle in response to the hot stove rule involves the principles of justice which show the way organizations prepare for the challenges through the establishment of a formal discipline where the consequences are more serious in case a staff member repeats an offense. Such a system of ensuring the offense are not repeated is referred to as progressive discipline. The progressive discipline identifies and communicates unacceptable characters as well as respond to a series of offense using actions.
The Importance of Discipline in the Workplace
The importance of instilling proper discipline in employees in an organization is to ensure they perform better in their work and remain relevant to their work. Good discipline at the workplace ensures the employees know what they are doing and will work towards the goals of the department. Good discipline also helps them improve their performance during work and hence will improve the standard of the work when the guidelines are properly carried out. A good discipline helps the management and supervisors react appropriately in case an issue arises in the work environment (Mihm and Kemal 52). All the rules need to be followed in solving challenges which are found in the discipline since everybody needs to accommodate the results and know the issue without any subjective thoughts. When the discipline is approached in the right manner, there will be no disparities and the confrontations will be solved imminently.
Discipline as Freedom
Discipline is classified as a freedom by other people. Many people may disagree with this sentiment, but the meaning of discipline equates the meaning in the way one understands it. Self-discipline involves acting in the capacity that one feels they are best suited and meets the goals that they have set. Self-discipline is therefore associated with the drive that one works on an idea or project after the initial rush of enthusiasm is wiped away (Brady and Stolzer n.p). One goes out to work on their obligations on what they feel is right. All their efforts are focused on getting the best results for their goals. Self-discipline gives one the confidence to work on their goals or objective which they feel suits their lives, hence considered a freedom.
Work cited
Brady, Tim, and Alan J. Stolzer. "Toward Developing an Academic Discipline." (2015).
Mihm, Maximilian, and Kemal Ozbek. "A Model of Self-Discipline." (2016).
