11.
BE WARY OF FEAR

Every experienced leader knows that people often perform better when their jobs are on the line, that fear of disapproval often generates better work than the expectation of praise. Some leaders, noting this, regularly use fear as part of their leadership style.

But remember two things about the use of fear.

First, it inhibits some of the less experienced or more sensitive people, and thus prevents them from voicing their ideas. Yet because of their inexperience and sensitivity, these people often have the freshest ideas to offer.

Other people start second guessing their bosses — never a good idea when you want original thinking.

Still others become so paralyzed, they can’t do anything at all.

Second, and more important, while fear is often effective in the short run, it is almost always ineffective in the long run.

Not only do good people reject working under such conditions and eventually leave, but worse — fear poisons the environment of the company, and makes working there no fun.

For these reasons, ideaists seldom use fear.