Here's a short article I found.
http://www.allbusiness.com/services/business-services-advertising/4216318-1.html
It's a Point/Counterpoint about using fear as a motivator in the workplace. The side against says that fear only works short term and can cause unforeseen consequences. The side for says that fear can be a great motivator if you keep your distance and set reasonable consequences that you follow through with.
Which side do you agree with?
http://www.allbusiness.com/services/business-services-advertising/4216318-1.html
It's a Point/Counterpoint about using fear as a motivator in the workplace. The side against says that fear only works short term and can cause unforeseen consequences. The side for says that fear can be a great motivator if you keep your distance and set reasonable consequences that you follow through with.
Which side do you agree with?
I think each side is making their points based on different definitions of fear. I would say that the 'survival mode' type fear that the no side uses is very different from the 'fear of not graduating' type fear that the yes side uses. To get everyone on the same page, I used dictionary.com to get a better working definition:
fear
–noun 1. a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.
2. a specific instance of or propensity for such a feeling: an abnormal fear of heights.
3. concern or anxiety; solicitude: a fear for someone's safety.
4. reverential awe, esp. toward God.
5. that which causes a feeling of being afraid; that of which a person is afraid: Cancer is a common fear.
–verb (used with object) 6. to regard with fear; be afraid of.
7. to have reverential awe of.
8. Archaic. to experience fear in (oneself).
–verb (used without object) 9. to have fear; be afraid.
The first definition uses the word impending, which is a more immediate consequence that the person fears. This makes the Yes side seem not as valid to me. Using fear that makes someone expect impending danger is nothing to have in the workplace. People don't really fear authority figures (at least in the way the dictionary defines it) so I don't think it's healthy to create that kind of atmosphere in the workplace. There are also many studies that suggest when employees are happy an healthy, they have higher productivity and contribute to a better work environment for everyone.