If you're leading by force, you're not leading, you're forcing

Sometimes, leaders take the "attractive shortcut" of leading by force and fear.  Just in case you need a reminder (or need to remind someone else in your workplace):  Here's why that's no solution at all:

1)  Even if the economy is such that you could get away with branding your employees with a red hot iron to their forehead, that's not likely going to be the best way to get productivity.  Your customers aren't going to see great results from that.

2)  If someone put a gun to your head and demanded $50, you'd give it to them.  But, would you meet them at the same corner every day for the next year? 

Leading by force, and leading by fear, is not leading at all.  It's simply forcing.  If you play that hand, you will get short term results, just like a robber with a gun would.  You will NOT get good mid-term or long-term results.  And, the best people will leave a bad manager first.

Again, remember, how would YOU like to be managed?  Do the same with your team, and you'll find they are human like you, and respond better to positive leadership than to forcing, fear, and threats.