Beware the Negative Option

Modern organizations emphasize efficiency.  They 
downsize and restructure constantly.  If you do 
not perform -- the thinking goes -- you will soon 
be out of a job.

Yet, the biggest advances (e.g. the Internet, the 
Boeing 707 jetliner) took place in the 
employment-for-life organizations of the recent 
past.  The frantic pace of today's working world 
looks like great productivity, but the results are 
 often less valuable than they first appear.  

The trouble with negative motivation -- work or 
get fired -- is that it is much easier to destroy 
than to create.  If employees feel that they may 
be downsized at any moment, they will avoid risks, 
and spend time making themselves look better than 
the guy in the next cubicle.

Worst of all, unethical individuals who are not 
above injuring their coworkers gain an enormous 
advantage.  They can set up others for failure, 
pass the blame onto someone else, etc.  When the 
time comes for the next round of layoffs, 
management will inevitably rank the members of 
their staff.  The unscrupulous employees will look 
better than anyone else -- despite the fact that 
they damage the organization by their activities.  
   

After a few such cycles, who remains at the 
workplace?  Who are the "rising stars" that get 
promoted?  Is it really surprising that modern 
organizations (including companies, government 
departments, research labs and even charities) 
have so many problems? 

Experience shows that the fear of dismissal -- the 
negative option -- does not work as a productivity 
tool.  A good boss will find positive ways to 
motivate her staff -- or the organization will 
suffer the consequences.

posted on 1173454215.87 by SiteAdmin