Qualities of a Team Player - DISCIPLINED

We are continuing to learn and grow in 2014 by developing teamwork skills utilizing the lessons contained in John C. Maxwell’s book titled The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player. This book carries the subtitle “Becoming the kind of person every team wants”. Developing a better team always begins with the individuals. To improve the team, improve the individuals on the team.

Quality #7: Disciplined - where there's a will, there's a win.

"What we do on some great occasion will probably depend on what we already are; and what we are will be the result of previous years of self-discipline." - H.P. Liddon

"Discipline is the refining fire by which talent becomes ability." - Roy L. Smith

Discipline is doing what you really don't want to do so that you can do what you really want to do.

To become the kinds of players that teams want, people must develop discipline in three areas. They must possess:

1. Disciplined Thinking
   1. If you keep your mind active, regularly take on mental challenges and continually think about the right things, you will develop the disciplined thinking that will help you with whatever you endeavor to do.
2. Disciplined Emotions
   1. People have just two choices when it comes to their emotions: they can master their emotions or be mastered by them.
   2. That doesn't mean that to be a good team player, you have to turn off your feelings. But it does mean that you shouldn't let your feelings prevent you from doing what you should or drive you to do things you shouldn't.
3. Disciplined Actions
   1. Action separates the winners from the losers.
   2. "Parties who want milk should not seat themselves on a stool in the middle of the field and hope that the cow will back up to them." - Albert Hubert

To improve your discipline:

• Strengthen your work habits
• Take on a challenge
• Tame your tongue

Donald G Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc