What’s your goal with those you’re leading?
Do your methods of influence reflect that goal?
What do you really want for and from those you are leading?
Intimidation and punishment will usually only modify behavior. At best.
Discipline and inspiration change us internally - stir our minds and hearts.
Stir someone's heart - change someone's mind - and their behavior will change as well.
Do you simply want behavior to change? Or the person to be transformed?
Intimidation is almost always a symptom or sign of fear and insecurity.
Yelling at an employee for making a mistake may modify their behavior and give an outlet for expressing your anger, but it most certainly won't inspire them to grow or be stretched. It will do the opposite. They will cower and shrink back.
Screaming at an athlete and punishing them for striking out or throwing an interception or missing a free throw doesn't teach them, encourage them, or inspire them. It just causes them to fear the next time they strike out, throw an interception, or miss a free throw. That kind of fear doesn't motivate us; it paralyzes us.
I asked the question: What do you really want for and from those you are leading?
Maybe the first question should be:
Do I want anything for the person?
Or do I just want something from them?
Wanting something from someone produces laziness. Laziness breeds coersion.
Wanting something for someone produces leadership. Leadership offers inspiration!
Want to inspire someone? Teach them.
Want to motivate someone? Encourage them.
Want to lead someone? Show them how it's done and stand behind them.
