Early in my first term as Sheriff, my command staff and I were confronted with a management situation that put the Dynamic of Discipline to the test.

There were two employees who were engaged in an improper action that clearly demanded some type of discipline. They were both essentially guilty of the same offense, but we noted that the character of the two individuals was clearly different. By applying the Rule of Discipline, we were able to come up with two entirely distinct disciplinary actions which ultimately resulted in the full restoration of both employees.

Rule of Discipline 

Let the nature of the offense determine the range of options
Let the character of the offender determine which option you choose

First, we determined what range of disciplinary options were available to us based on the nature of the offense. In this case, we had the full range of options available from counselling to termination. Secondly, we looked at the character of the individuals. I actually passed out a printed copy of the Path of Destruction dynagram from the Dynamic of Restoration which depicts the steps in the downward progression of a Renegade. I asked the staff to tell me where each employee fit on the dynagram.

Path of Destruction

With very little debate, they were in agreement that the first employee was typically very faithful, (more…)

The Dynamic Leadership Rule of Discipline fits very well within a progressive discipline model. Discerning where the offender is on the downward Path of Destruction described in the Dynamic of Restoration is the key factor in determining their character. There are five steps in the Path of Destruction: Independent Spirit, Wounded Spirit, Bitter Spirit, Rebellious Spirit, and Unrestorable Spirit. Interestingly, these five steps fit very nicely into a progressive discipline model that includes Counselling, Reprimand, Suspension, Demotion, and Termination.

There are specific steps in the downward Path of Destruction that a person will typically experience once he steps out from under authority. To gain a full understanding of the Rule of Discipline and the reasons behind ethical failures, it is essential to understand this process.

Path of Destruction

We start with the Faithful Spirit – protected from harmful and evil influences and acting in harmony with the principles of his authority. He takes the first steps out from under this protection by displaying an Independent Spirit. (more…)

The Dynamic of Discipline series introduces a two-part character-based Rule of Discipline that serves as a guide for administering a progressive disciplinary model within an organization.

RULE OF DISCIPLINE

Part 1: Let the nature of the offense determine the range of disciplinary options that are available 

Part 2: Let the character of the offender determine which option you choose

In any given situation where there is an infraction that requires disciplinary action, there is typically a range of options available to the SuperVisor. Many factors determine the range of options: (more…)

In the first video from the Dynamic of Discipline, we look at the definition of discipline…

We usually think about discipline in it’s negative context as punishment for improper behavior. But that’s only one aspect of discipline. If you look at an older dictionary, one published earlier than 1950 or so, you find a different definition. I found this definition of discipline in a 1948 Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary that belongs to my mom:

Discipline is TRAINING that molds, corrects, strengthens, and perfects moral CHARACTER.

In it’s purest sense, discipline is character training! In fact, the word disciple comes from that same root.

So when you think about discipline within a character-based context, think about it as an effort to restore the individual into a proper relationship with his or her authorities. (more…)