By Ramkumar Seshu, Author of Born to Win and Leadership Lessons from the Bhagavad Gita
You know what I’ve learned after working with hundreds of leaders? Self-discipline isn’t about being rigid or perfect—it’s about becoming someone others can count on, starting with the smallest promises you make.
Let me tell you about Sanjay, a CEO I worked with last year. He came to me frustrated: “Ram, my team just doesn’t follow through. Projects are delayed, commitments are broken, and I’m constantly firefighting.” Sound familiar?
During our first Winning to Lead session, I asked him to track something simple for two weeks: every commitment he made to himself and his team. The results were eye-opening. Out of 23 commitments—from “I’ll review this proposal by Thursday” to “Let’s reconvene at 2 PM sharp”—he honored only 11.
Here’s what research tells us, and what I see every day: Gallup found that 70% of employee engagement variance comes directly from manager behavior, with consistency being the primary driver.¹ But statistics don’t capture the human reality I witness—when leaders break small promises to themselves, their teams learn that commitments are negotiable.
Sanjay decided to start with one discipline: if he said he’d respond to an email within 24 hours, he did it. Period. No exceptions, no “I’ll get to it tomorrow.” Then he moved to meeting punctuality—when he said 10 AM, it meant 10 AM, not 10:15.
The transformation wasn’t dramatic at first. But within three months, something shifted in his organization. His project manager started delivering reports on time. His sales head began honoring client commitments more consistently. Why? Because discipline like happiness is contagious.
Six months later, Sanjay’s company improved project deliveries considerably. But what he told me was more revealing: “Ram, for the first time, my team trusts that when I say something, it happens. That trust has changed everything, I have a team that is happy and motivated.”
This is why we emphasize “I Can” thinking in our programs. When you master the discipline to keep promises to yourself, you naturally inspire others to do the same. It’s not about perfection—it’s about integrity in small actions that build massive trust.
Self-discipline isn’t glamorous. It won’t make headlines or impress investors. But it’s the foundation upon which every other leadership skill stands. Because here’s the truth: before anyone will follow your vision, they need to trust your word.
Reference:
Gallup. (2020). “State of the Global Workplace.” Gallup Press. Research shows that managers account for at least 70% of variance in employee engagement scores. Available: https://www.gallup.com/workplace/285674/improve-employee-engagement-workplace.aspx
