DISC Is a Superpower!

Discover the power of DISC for enhancing business dynamics. Learn its practical applications, recognize the four behavioral style categories, and gain insights into strengths, blind spots, and navigating interpersonal differences.

What You’ll Learn in DISC is a Superpower!

Unlock the secrets of DISC, identifying behavioral styles and understanding how they influence interactions. Acquire the superpower to recognize and leverage individual strengths and blind spots, enhancing your ability to navigate diverse professional relationships.

Syllabus

You will:

Unlock the key to seamless communication in business with our DISC is a Superpower course. Enroll today and gain the superpower to navigate diverse interactions, transforming your professional relationships and propelling your success.

DISC – Break Through Communications

Unlock the potential of your team and enhance your leadership skills with the MAP U 202 Breakthrough Communications with DiSC course. This course is meticulously designed to harness the power of DISC assessments, a proven methodology embraced by over 40 million professionals to foster productive workplace environments and effective communication strategies.

What You’ll Learn in Breakthrough Communications with DISC

This transformative course includes a comprehensive DISC assessment, equipping you with a personalized Behavioral Style Report. You’ll gain actionable insights into your communication preferences and learn how to recognize and adapt to the diverse behavioral styles in your workplace.

Syllabus

You will:

Embrace the opportunity to become an adept communicator with MAP U 202’s expert guidance on DISC. Add this course to your learning path or help your team embark on a journey to communication excellence.

Three Tips for Discipline Over Distraction, Focus Over Failure

Ok, we don’t really have to say it. As a leader, you know there are a lot of external current events and challenges creating divisiveness and dissention today.

And yet, there is still so much goodness in the world, and your people need to stay focused and productive within their jobs.

In your role, you may be grappling with a culture that is struggling with that focus and productivity. But you need to get a hold of it. And at MAP, we know it’s more than possible.There are strategies that work. As a leadership and management consulting firm that for over 60 years, we have coached 170+ leaders and organizations through good times and bad. We’ve seen countless leaders choose discipline over distraction and focus over failure. We know you can do it, too.

The following tips are relevant right now. Use them to prevent and address any strife leading to walls or setbacks in your midst.

Talk less, listen more. The best information comes from asking the best questions. Listening more (80 percent of the time) and then asking probing questions (20 percent of the time) is the fastest way to grow understanding and get the right answers. As a leader, even bringing some humility to the table by saying some version of, “I’ve got a dumb question to ask, what does X mean?” can yield what psychologists call deep structures of information. You and your direct report, team member, client, etc., know you’re not really dumb. However, this approach can successfully invite connection, engagement and understanding. It’s a bridge-builder.

Avoid preferential tendencies. You’re going to like and agree with some people more than others–it’s human nature. But in a leadership position, playing favorites is one of the fastest ways to build barriers and hostilities. It can sink employee morale. Avoid this by holding all accountable, including yourself. Make everyone deliver in ways that are fair yet equally challenging according to the goals and expectations set before them. Be impartial and consistent around how you address performance issues. Spread recognition around, finding ways to recognize all. And coach direct reports to not play favorites with their hires and/or team members. It’s got to be clear you support a culture of total equity.

Nurture the solution-oriented mindset. As a leader, you know problems will arise. And employees will come to you with disagreements or clearly divided over issues professionally (or even personally). When that happens, ask them to bring at least two solutions to the table before you engage. And in your management training, be proactive, making it a habit with your direct reports to surface potential barriers and challenges, developing contingency plans for what could go wrong and have it ready. Build and maintain an environment where you demand solutions over strife. Instead of stubborn conflict, divisiveness, and even fear, you’ll find productivity, progress and positive results.

We want to know! What are you doing to build bridges, not walls in your organization today?

Are You a Disciplined Planner?

There’s an old saying, “If you fail to plan then you’re planning to fail.” Often times sayings are simply lip service, but in this case, there is a reason to pay attention. There are a million reasons or excuses why we fail to plan – we’re too busy, too tired, too stressed. But taking a few minutes at the end of your workday, just before you go to bed, or before you start your day to write down a plan will work hugely in your favor.

Putting the plan in writing helps you create more accountability, schedule activities to accomplish your short and long-term goals, and allows you to think through problems and solutions at a deeper level. Like many of MAP’s top clients, you’ll become a daily, disciplined planner. Having this type of commitment to planning will get you stronger results. (Oh — and you’ll probably get more sleep!)

Do you ever have restless nights, tossing and turning in bed, and going through the mental list of everything you have to do the next day? Having a mental list is exhausting and far from productive. Moving to a written, typed or voice-to-text list will lift a great weight from your shoulders. It’s all there so you can’t forget. It also improves clarity, focus and a plan for navigating your upcoming day. The strategy or goals are set to some degree, right there in plain sight. You will feel more relaxed going to sleep and wake up feeling more confident in your upcoming productivity.

Business leaders and managers are overwhelmed. Everyone is wearing too many hats and working harder than ever just to stay afloat. Consequently, they’ve pushed planning to the back burner. And that’s a mistake, albeit a correctible one, fortunately, with the small, yet significant daily discipline of documenting what’s to be accomplish today, tomorrow, this week, etc.

Life is two-thirds planning and one-third delivery. Planning is a key driver in creating the goals and strategies that will deliver positive results. So, if you’ve been pushing planning to the back burner — stop and make it a priority. If you’re already losing sleep, what have you got to lose?

Make “Motivation” a Daily Discipline.

The great speaker, Zig Ziglar, once said, “People often say motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing — that’s why we recommend it daily.” And he couldn’t be more right!

Recognizing and motivating people for doing a good job seems easy, yet so many people don’t do it. To effectively lead, you’ve got to look at motivation as a strategy for getting results, and build in daily activities that help build this discipline. Start with the attitude that motivating employees is a priority worth pursuing each and every day. By staying consistent with your motivation, you’ll build a culture of people who are actually engaged and enthusiastic about their jobs.

Build “motivator” into your leadership style.
When people think of your leadership style, do they think of you as a motivator? If not, you should consider why they don’t — and how to become one! It takes work and effort to be a motivational leader, but by making the commitment to encourage and help others daily, you will begin to see positive changes in their work day and in your own.Set a daily goal.
At the start of each day, perhaps during your commute to work or while you’re in the shower, think about things you can do to motivate those around you. What’s going to kick your people into high gear? What small gesture will leave them feeling good about themselves, thinking in fresh, productive ways, and achieving their maximum potential? Make it your goal to make a positive difference at least once a day, and make a habit of it. Soon, you’ll start to see just how many people you can affect, and how quickly their motivation and enthusiasm rise.Stick with it.
Motivation isn’t a medicine, capable of providing a quick fix. For it to be effective, you’ve got to use motivation like a daily vitamin. It needs to be a habit that you stick to each and every day. If you do that, you will create a positive environment, instill balance, maximize productivity, and deliver tangible results over time among those you lead. That means you’ve got to relentlessly motivate in the bad times as well as the good times.As with all your strategies for growth and goal achievement, stay the course and you’ll reap the rewards. Keep your people up and going by showing them that you won’t be deterred or derailed even when things get tough. Do this, and not only will you fuel the engine that keeps your organization going, you’ll also start building a legacy as someone who really knows how to motivate a team.

What are some small ways to motivate that have a big impact?

Discover New Truths—About You!

It’s been said that there are several levels of knowledge. Knowing something for certain is the first. The second is thinking you know something. The third is knowing with certainty you do not know something. The fourth is the killer: not knowing that you don’t know something. This last state of knowledge is the most dangerous because if you’re oblivious to what you don’t know, you’re a target for all types of problems. So my question for you today is, what do you not know about yourself that, perhaps, others know too well? As discussed in MAP’s just-released book, The Disciplined Leader, focusing on yourself as a leader and getting a realistic picture of what kind of leader you truly are is a powerful step that can put you on a forward path of improvement. Of course, you’ll have to take ownership of what you learn—the good, the bad, and the ugly—before you can set the right goals and strategies to improve. But it’s totally doable. You have to have courage, be willing to face and embrace hard truths, and build in those habits that will support that new, improved, and ever-evolving version of your leadership self.

Here are three easy ways to get more clarity about who you really are as a leader today and the possibilities for becoming a better one tomorrow:

Get 360-degree feedback. One of the most powerful components to MAP’s 2.5 day executive workshop is the 360-degree feedback we conduct and provide to attendees. With this anonymous querying, there’s no nonsense, no sugarcoating, no rose-colored glasses. Our attendees learn exactly what their professional colleagues think and feel about their leadership and management style and abilities, and it’s almost always a big eye-opener because there’s usually some information or perhaps a whole string of facts that contribute to a moment of truth. Suddenly, people start realizing some key aspects about themselves that they had never considered or believed to be true—yet are. Whether you’re using MAP’s tool or doing this somehow on your own, the key is to ensure the feedback is anonymous. Having a third-party manage the process is also a smart way to go.Use assessments. At MAP, we like to use DISC®, a non-judgmental, diagnostic tool that helps people learn about their communication skills, work productivity, and, of importance to many of our clients, how well they work with teams. There are other assessments on the market, and each can be a gateway to a journey of greater understanding and awareness of the self. From these assessments, you can formulate strategies on how to become more productive, communicate with greater impact, and be an effective team member and leader. In our experience, these assessments can be a great starting point for important discussions and uncover things that you might not realize about yourself (and how you interact with others) that are either preventing or supporting your leadership potential.

Take classes. It’s amazing how just learning a new subject can teach you not only the topic at hand, but also about yourself, too. For example, a friend recently took a class in meditation and learned all about the history and techniques of this ancient practice. What she didn’t expect was to learn how impatient she was, particularly when it came to self-improvement—a pattern she realized trickled over into her career and professional leadership goals. She wanted instant results, which in many disciplines, is often impossible. Drawn to simply do something new, which she considered fun and different, she learned something she hadn’t known about herself before and took this powerful lesson to heart. When was the last time you branched out and took a class just for fun or for the purpose of doing something new and different?

We’ve all taken classes at some point in our lives, so what did you learn about yourself in a particular class—not just the subject but perhaps a bigger lesson that shed critical light on your professional development?

How Leaders Reach Their Full Potential Through Discipline and Execution

Potential is one of the most misunderstood ideas in leadership.

It’s often treated as something you either have or don’t.

Something that exists on its own.

But potential, on its own, produces nothing.

Only execution does.

Potential Without Execution Is Irrelevant

Many individuals are recognized for their potential.

Fewer are recognized for consistently delivering results.

The difference is not capability.

It’s action.

Potential becomes valuable only when it is translated into:

Without that, it remains unused capacity.

Why Potential Is Often Underutilized

Leaders and teams frequently fall into the same pattern:

But growth does not happen automatically.

It requires structure, discipline, and intentional development.

Discipline Unlocks Potential

At MAP, we emphasize that discipline—not motivation—is what drives performance.

Individuals who reach their potential:

Discipline turns ability into results.

Clarity Creates Direction

Potential without direction leads to scattered effort.

Leaders must define:

Clarity ensures that energy is applied where it creates impact.

Accountability Drives Growth

Potential expands when it is challenged.

Without accountability:

With accountability:

Accountability is what pushes potential forward.

Development Requires Intentional Effort

Growth does not happen through passive experience.

It requires:

Leaders must actively develop themselves and others — not wait for growth to occur.

Move From Belief to Action

Belief in potential is only the starting point.

What matters is what follows.

Leaders must ask:

Because belief without action creates no results.

How MAP Helps Leaders Reach Their Potential

At MAP, we help leaders translate potential into performance.

Inside programs like the MAP 2.5 Workshop, leaders learn how to:

Because potential is not the goal.

Performance is.

Turn Potential Into Results

If you want to reach your potential, shift your focus.

From:

Because potential is not what defines success.

What you consistently execute does.

Self-Discipline for Success: How to Turn Motivation Into Daily Results

Motivation is often treated as something you wait for.

But high-performing leaders don’t rely on motivation.

They rely on discipline.

If you want consistent results, you need to stop depending on how you feel —
and start building daily habits that drive performance.

Why Motivation Isn’t Enough

Motivation is inconsistent.

Some days it’s strong.
Other days, it’s not there at all.

If performance depends on motivation:

Motivation may start action —
but it doesn’t sustain it.

Discipline Creates Consistency

Discipline is what turns intention into action.

It means:

Discipline creates consistency — and consistency drives results.

Build Daily Habits That Support Performance

Strong leaders don’t rely on bursts of effort.

They build habits.

Daily discipline includes:

Small daily actions compound over time.

Focus on What Matters Most

At MAP, we emphasize focusing on the critical few priorities.

Discipline is not about doing more —
it’s about doing what matters most consistently.

Leaders should:

Focus strengthens discipline.

Accountability Reinforces Discipline

At MAP, we see that discipline improves when accountability is present.

Without accountability:

With accountability:

Accountability ensures discipline leads to outcomes.

Replace Motivation with Systems

Instead of relying on motivation, build systems.

Systems include:

Systems reduce reliance on willpower and create consistency.

Leadership Requires Discipline

Leaders set the standard for their teams.

When leaders operate with discipline:

Discipline is not just personal — it shapes the entire organization.

How MAP Helps Leaders Build Discipline and Performance

At MAP, we help leaders create systems that drive consistent execution.

Inside programs like the MAP 2.5 Workshop, leaders learn how to:

Because results don’t come from occasional effort —
they come from consistent execution.

Turn Motivation Into Daily Results

If you want better performance, shift your focus.

Ask yourself:

Because success isn’t built on how you feel.

It’s built on what you do — consistently.

Hold Yourself Accountable: How Leaders Build Discipline and Drive Results

Accountability starts with you.

Before you can expect it from your team, your organization, or anyone else, you have to hold yourself accountable.

Because leadership isn’t defined by what you say.

It’s defined by what you consistently do.

What It Means to Hold Yourself Accountable

Holding yourself accountable means taking ownership of your actions, decisions, and results.

It means:

Accountability is not external — it’s internal.

Why Accountability Is Often Avoided

Even strong leaders struggle with accountability at times.

Common challenges include:

Without accountability, performance becomes inconsistent.

Accountability Drives Results

At MAP, we see that accountability is one of the most important drivers of performance.

When you hold yourself accountable:

Accountability turns intention into action.

Build Personal Discipline

Accountability requires discipline.

Leaders must:

Discipline creates structure — and structure creates results.

Be Honest About Your Performance

Self-accountability requires honesty.

Ask yourself:

Avoiding these questions limits growth.

Facing them creates progress.

Align Actions with Goals

Accountability means aligning your daily actions with your larger goals.

That includes:

Without alignment, effort is wasted.

Lead by Example

Your team will mirror your behavior.

If you:

Your team will do the same.

Leadership accountability sets the standard for everyone else.

How MAP Helps Leaders Build Accountability

At MAP, we help leaders build accountability into their daily operations and leadership approach.

Inside programs like the MAP 2.5 Workshop, leaders learn how to:

Because accountability isn’t a one-time action —
it’s a system.

Hold Yourself Accountable Every Day

If you want better results, start with yourself.

Ask:

Because accountability isn’t something you demand.

It’s something you demonstrate.

Leadership Discipline: Be a Disciple of Discipline

Why Leadership Discipline Matters in Execution

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. But when it comes to leadership, “tough” typically translates to disciplined — staying the course even when the waters inevitably get rocky during the implementation stage of any idea, strategy, or goal.

A strong culture of accountability starts with leadership discipline, consistent communication, and aligned expectations.

No surprise, a recent MAP survey found that:

70% of CEOs felt their strategies were the right ones — but only 10% believed those strategies were being implemented correctly.

Why?

Challenged with change, leaders often back down or shift directions when things get hard.

The moral: Become a Disciple of Discipline. Be tough — but more importantly, stay the course. With disciplined execution, your goals can eventually be achieved.

How Disciplined Leaders Turn Strategy Into Results

Lee Froschheiser of MAP’s senior consulting team has coached countless leaders on how to stay the course. What’s tricky, he says, is that leaders often set goals in too many directions at once.

As a result, they struggle to execute any one strategy well because they become unfocused, spread too thin, or distracted by the next “flavor of the month.”

“They’re looking for the silver bullet,” Froschheiser explains, “but what they really need is the courage and conviction to stay disciplined in executing core fundamentals.”

When leaders model accountability, employee engagement increases and execution becomes more predictable.

True leadership discipline means committing to a clear strategy and holding steady through the inevitable challenges.

The Four Phases of Disciplined Execution

According to MAP, organizations move through four phases on the path to sustainable success:

1. The “How” Phase

This is when resistance peaks. Teams are focused on new procedures, policies, and responsibilities without seeing immediate results. Many strategies fail here due to frustration, lack of project management skills, and scattered focus.

2. The “Why” Phase

This is the breakthrough moment. People finally begin to see results and understand the value of their efforts. It’s the organization-wide “aha” that reinforces commitment.

3. The “Who” Phase

Here, the strategy becomes embedded in company culture. Accountability rises, motivation improves, and employees clearly understand how their work connects to the organization’s success. Teamwork flows naturally.

4. The “External” Phase

Fundamental strategies are applied beyond internal teams to vendors, partners, and customers. Others begin to recognize your disciplined execution as part of your brand.

Turning Discipline Into Daily Leadership Practice

While these phases are essential, what truly drives positive outcomes is a leader who practices disciplined leadership every day.

Accountability isn’t about control — it’s about ownership, alignment, and execution.

A Disciple of Discipline stays committed to fundamental business practices, leads with clarity, and moves the organization forward with purpose and consistency. That’s what carries companies through all four phases — and creates lasting results.

Ready to strengthen leadership discipline and execution across your organization?

MAP Consulting helps leaders build accountability systems that turn strategy into measurable performance.

👉 Explore MAP’s leadership consulting services.

What do you think is the main reason company strategies fail?

 

Leadership Discipline Drives Company Success in Economic Uncertainty | MAP Consulting

How Leadership Discipline Creates Results When Markets Are Uncertain

Throughout the country, uncertainty hangs in the air, with mixed signs of economic recovery still dampening today’s business climate. But at least 10 companies aren’t being disheartened or defeated by what they cannot control. Instead, thanks to their can-do attitudes, leadership discipline, and unwavering commitment to accountability, these organizations are driving measurable results.

By building a culture of accountability, disciplined management practices, and an engaged workforce, these companies continue to perform — even during challenging economic conditions.

Highlighting this leadership excellence, MAP is officially announcing the latest winners of the 7th Annual MAP Presidential Award.

Why Accountability and Execution Matter in Leadership

The prestigious 2011 Presidential Award is an honor bestowed on organizations that achieve strategic goals through leadership accountability, execution discipline, and aligned teams. According to John Manning, MAP’s General Manager, these award winners demonstrate that sustainable business success comes from strong fundamentals paired with consistent execution.

“Looking at the mix of this year’s Presidential Award winners, there’s a lot of diversity among the industries represented, but the common denominator is discipline,” Manning says.
“These leaders are true disciples of discipline. They are stewards of accountability and masters of management — two critical drivers of high-performance cultures.”

A strong culture of accountability starts with leadership clarity, consistent communication, and aligned expectations.

How MAP Helps Leaders Turn Strategy Into Execution

MAP has served as a business execution partner to more than 15,000 companies since 1960. Organizations recognized this year strengthened their bottom line through focused business-plan execution and achievement of Vital Factors® goals.

Through the integration of process discipline, leadership development, and workforce engagement, MAP accelerates performance and helps organizations establish lasting competitive advantage.

The criteria for the Presidential Award include:

When leaders model accountability, employee engagement increases and performance becomes more predictable.

2011 MAP Presidential Award Winners

MAP’s 2011 Presidential Award winners receive recognition from MAP’s leadership and consulting team, public acknowledgment, and features across MAP’s communications channels.

This year’s honored organizations include:

Turning Accountability Into Daily Practice

Accountability isn’t about control; it’s about ownership, alignment, and execution. These award-winning companies demonstrate that disciplined leadership, engaged employees, and consistent execution drive success regardless of economic conditions.

Ready to strengthen accountability across your organization?

MAP Consulting helps leaders build clarity, engagement, and execution systems that drive measurable results.
👉 Explore MAP’s leadership consulting services

Become a Daily, Disciplined Planner: How Leadership Discipline Drives Results

Heard the old saying, “If you fail to plan, then you’re planning to fail?” It’s absolutely true.

There are a million reasons we don’t plan. We’re too busy. Too tired. Too stressed. But taking just a few minutes at the end of your workday, before bed, or at the start of your morning to write down a plan can work wonders.

Putting your plan on paper creates accountability, helps schedule activities tied to short- and long-term goals, and allows you to think through challenges and solutions more clearly. Like many of MAP’s top clients, you’ll begin to see stronger results once you become a daily, disciplined planner. (Oh — and you’ll probably sleep better, too.)

I discovered this firsthand.

For a long time, I spent restless nights replaying everything I needed to do the next day — and mentally trying to figure out how to do it all. It was exhausting and unproductive. One day, I decided to write everything down.

Almost immediately, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. There it all was — captured on paper. I had clarity, focus, and a rough plan for navigating the next day. My goals were visible. My priorities were clear. That night, I finally slept well.

The next morning, I walked into work feeling confident, prepared, and in control — because I already had a plan.

Today, one of the most common themes we hear from leaders and managers is overwhelm.

With economic pressure and growing responsibilities, many are wearing too many hats and working harder than ever. Planning often gets pushed aside. And while that’s understandable, it’s also a mistake — one that’s easy to correct with a small but powerful daily habit: writing down what needs to be accomplished today, tomorrow, and this week.

Five Steps to Becoming a Daily, Disciplined Planner

1. Write It Down

Get everything out of your head and onto paper. Tasks, goals, concerns — capture it all. This alone creates instant clarity and reduces stress.

2. Identify Your Top Priorities

Focus on the vital few. What truly needs your attention today? Prioritizing prevents distractions from taking over.

3. Schedule Time for What Matters

Assign time blocks to your most important tasks. Planning when you’ll act makes execution far more likely.

4. Think Through Challenges in Advance

Use planning time to anticipate obstacles and consider solutions before problems arise.

5. Review and Adjust Daily

At the end of each day, review what worked, what didn’t, and update your plan for tomorrow. Consistency builds momentum.

Why is planning so important?

Life is two-thirds planning and one-third delivery.

Planning drives the goals and strategies that produce results. Without it, execution becomes reactive and scattered. With it, leaders gain focus, accountability, and control.

So if planning has been on your back burner, make today the day you change that.

If you haven’t made a New Year’s resolution yet, consider committing to daily, disciplined planning. And if you’re already losing sleep, what do you really have to lose?

What’s one thing you do to keep yourself on track?