🚀 go-pugleaf

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Excellent comments on this subject, and another thought came to me to help
expand on input from Kevin and Scott.
It seems that many of us grow up in a "negative reinforcement" environment.
This is not always the case.  Many of us grow up with loving and caring
parents and individuals who show their appreciation through hugs and warm
words.  This different paradigm is what I'll call "positive reinforcement."

Discipline is appropriate and often implies fear, pressure, or some sort
or negative consequences.  I submit that positive reinforcement can also
be amplied as a motivator, and that this paradigm is in fact used by many
managers (and hard chargers), however, many do not use this technique to
motivate.

Maslow discussed various levels of needs/maturity, and yes we may need to
call upon Manage By Fear occassionally, but as people mature (as I hope
most employees have), I would hope that management then treats them as
mature adults, and focuses on Maslow's higher levels of needs/motivation.
This will help put the employee-base at or near the level of
self-actualization.  And, this in turn, will means that your company will
have near optimum input to process improvement, building world-class
processes, and fulfilling your customer's requests/requirements with
your product/service offerings.

..... Gerry Benner,  Storage Technology Corporation,  Louisville, Colorado