The Power of Discipline – Unlocking Opportunities for 2025
Hello Igniters!
As we stand on the threshold of a new year, I want to start issue 24 and the last of 2024 with a message of gratitude. Thank you to my clients who allowed me to support their development in understanding themselves and realizing new potential. To the subscribers of the Insight Igniter - I am grateful that you found value in my musings in your own unique way. I am excited to see what 2025 has in store for us all!
Discipline, as I have come to learn, is more than a habit – it is a conscious choice we make every day to prioritize what matters most. This is issue 3 of my 3-part series where we explore the concept and application of discipline in our professional and personal lives. A quick recap for those who are new to the insight igniter. First, I asked you to define “What does discipline mean to you?” followed by exploring “What habits or patterns are currently limiting your ability to stay disciplined?”. With 2025 on the horizon, I offer you a question that needs space for refection, forward thinking and action.
The Insight Igniter coaching question for December 30, 2024:
“What new opportunities would be realized from a more disciplined version of yourself?”
This question is timely as you consider building a bridge between intention and opportunity with your new year resolutions. Let’s investigate how sitting with this question can be a driving force to transform the way you approach your personal relationships and professional goals.
Strengthening Personal Relationships
When I first started this series, discipline It was not a word I immediately associated with personal relationships. I’ve now come to see it as a valued and transformative force in nurturing meaningful relationships. When the gravity of work deadlines and other life distractions pulls you away from your parents, interrupts time with your partner or prevents you from showing up for friends, feelings of insecurity, frustration and even loneliness can be experienced. These emotions are not a result of neglect or lack of love, but rather from a lack of intentional discipline. The question “What new opportunities would be realized from a more disciplined version of yourself?” allows you to uncover what habits and routines need to be encouraged or even discouraged, learn where we’ve been settling, what fears we’ve been avoiding, and how much untapped potential lies within us. If you find yourself stuck, I invite you to probe into “trust” and “intimacy” in your relationships. As you identify areas for improvement, you can start to develop small repeatable actions that forge relationships that not only endure but thrive, offering you opportunities to grow and be fully present with the people who matter most.
Leading Organizational Change
Cultural change is one of the most complex challenges any executive will face. Whether it’s a restructuring, implementing new technology, or shifting cultural norms, leaders must navigate competing priorities, overcome resistance, and maintain a clear vision amid uncertainty. This realization came into sharp focus for a client during our last coaching session. The executive was facing challenges as they were leading the merger of two business units, a transformation as much about personal leadership as it is about strategy. The executive shared feelings of frustration and inadequacy, the team wasn’t making any progress despite a laundry list of actions being completed. The question “What new opportunities would be realized from a more disciplined version of yourself?” led the leader to confront a truth they had long avoided. The leader admitted to oscillating between pushing too hard and stepping back entirely, expecting change to happen organically. Their inconsistency of effort and message - was being mirrored by the transition team. A deeper dive into this question, the executive realized that a more disciplined version of themself could unlock critical opportunities for the merger to be completed on time and deliver greater benefit. We landed on a mantra they would internalize and share with the team as accountability partners:
1. Consistency: Showing up every day with the same clarity and commitment to realizing the vision of success
2. Accountability: Holding myself and others to the standards we had set, even when it was uncomfortable
3. Modeling the Vision: Champion the behaviors and values the organization needs to adopt for success.
A disciplined leader doesn’t just hope for change—they make it possible. Discipline is the differentiator between old and new habits, inspiring trust, compelling influence, and meaningful progress.
So, as you step into the new year, take time to answer this question honestly – it isn’t just a thought exercise, it’s a challenge. What would your life look like if discipline became a daily practice rather than a fleeting intention? The opportunities waiting for a more disciplined version of you aren’t just theoretical. They’re real, tangible, and within reach. Let discipline be the key to unlocking a successful 2025!
Until next time – Stay ignited!
Best,
Stef