Discipline is not necessarily following rules !!!

Discipline is not necessarily following rules!!!

Sounds a bit weird!

Is indiscipline then necessarily not following rules?

Consider this -

When I was still in my Alma mater, we had a teacher who was never comfortable with the ultra formal wear made necessary as an office wear. He used to be in his Safari suit or wear his shirt untucked. However I can vouch for anything that he was perhaps the best teacher we had. He was an excellent researcher as well. Everyone thought that he was a bit eccentric considering that he would turn-up to work in his lab at odd hours. But he was unmatched when it came to his knowledge and teachings.

In short, his attire or choice of working hours had no implications whatsoever on his effectiveness. There were others all decked-up but much ado about nothing really to do is a waste at the end of the day, isn't it?

In contrast, in an organization where people are customer-facing and where image-building is a part of organizational strategy, like hospitality, attire may carry significant value.

Should then there be a common accepted norm of working. Yes.

Then what is indiscipline? 

Indiscipline in my opinion is a intentional involvement of an individual or groups of individuals in behaviour or act that hinders the liberty, effectiveness and/or wellness of co-workers or causes loss/damage to the organization.

What is discipline?

Discipline is respecting the rights and space of other individuals, following a commonly accepted norm of behaviour and weighing one's action that no way causes any loss or damage or tarnish the image of oneself or of colleagues and of the organization.

Self-discipline is the best discipline!!!

Finally, the question, how should discipline be ensured and who should ensure the same? Enforcing or imposing discipline is the worst form of disciplining and is  rooted to the traditional belief that discipline is about creating a set of rigid rules and then forcing people to follow the same.

The 'Ones' who discipline must first discipline themselves!!! Charity begins at home, remember.

Then, it is about creating an environment of trust, openness, rationality and responsibility where individuals learn to discipline themselves. Self-discipline take a bit longer to learn but is much more shared, followed and long-lasting.

Infact the best place to teach self-discipline is school and best time to teach are the formative years of an individual. But adults can also be taught the value of self-discipline. I have enough evidences of the same.

Engagement to the concept of  discipline is necessary for its practice and the same happens only by understanding the right meaning of discipline and knowing the right way of sharing it among the community.