Despair Inc. - Right and Wrong

This article in Fast Company from way back in May 2005 highlighted some thoughts from a company called Despair Inc.  Funny - and somewhat true. 

Does demotivation work?  Does punishment work?  I think that anyone who has ever raised children knows – the stick works well in when immediate and decisive action is required. A parent doesn’t discuss crossing the street without looking with children when they do it – they grab, yank and yell. Very effective for creating almost instinctive behavior modification – but not for teaching the “why” – that comes later after you’ve instilled the basic survival skills. Companies should think the same.

Companies should think in terms of demotivation (punishment) for the basic survival skills – breaches in ethics, treating employees poorly, stealing, etc. Swift, decisive punishment for any breach in basic corporate values (whatever they may be) is required to reinforce the critical importance of values within an organization. Corporate values are not things you decide to comply with or not. They are the core of the organization. They are the basic survival skills necessary to stay with the company.

Once you’ve instilled the survival skills then move on to the behaviors that need to be reinforced over time – things that require judgment.