MANAGEMENT BY FEAR

We heard of participative management and management by objective [MBO]. There are so many other words and phrases describing management approach just to make it attractive, simple and eventually people will 'buy' the idea.

I like to share my observation on 'management by fear'. Subordinates will be so scared of their superior that they will never question him. They will try not not see the superior face to face because they know he will always spot your mistake.

This fear element is then blended with 'loyalty' element. Do first and ask question later. The rationale, if a soldier is allowed to question your order, then it is too late to take action against the enemy. On the other hand, the friendly forces will be injured or killed.

If you ask me, I would say there is advantage and disadvantage of this approach. Sometimes subordinates must be threatened so that they would do the job. Theoritically speaking it may be the application of X Theory. These people must be supervised closely. That is why we have supervisor and overseer.

Management by fear will also create stress. Many experts believe that we need some percentage of stress so that we are 'pushed' to work.

Perhaps this is what I termed as practical management. Officers and soldiers of those days has been practising this approach, and it works. But we have to be careful, if we go overboard then we might be inviting a mutiny.