A "tough" leader @ work

I see many managers / leaders handled their staff with their own 101 ways. However sometimes they will start to question themselves if the method they used is the right one. For me, one of the “must read” book when you faced dilemma being a leader, is to refer to my favourite book called “The One Minute Manager” by Dr Blanchard and Spencer Johnson. Below is an interesting story from the book that makes me realised that as a leader, we must first master the method of “dush” before knowing the “sayang” to our subordinates.

Once upon a time, an emperor appointed a second in command. He called this prime minister in and, in effect, said to him, "Why don’t we divide up the tasks?" Why don’t you do all the punishing and I’ll do all the rewarding?" The prime minister said "Fine. I’ll do all the punishing and you do all the rewarding.” This emperor soon noticed that whenever he asked someone to do something, they might do it or they might not do it.
However, when the prime minister spoke, people moved. So the emperor called the prime minister back in and said, "Why don’t we divide the tasks again? You have been doing all the punishing here for quite a while. Now let me do the punishing and you do the rewarding." So the prime minister and the emperor switched roles again.

Within a month the prime minister became the emperor. Why? What happen?

The emperor had been a nice person, rewarding and being kind to everyone at first; then he started to punish people. People said, "What’s wrong with that old codger?" and they threw him out on his ear. When they came to look for a replacement, they said, "You know who’s really starting to come around now—the prime minister!". So, they put him right into office.

Start reading! And enjoy the journey to be One Minute Manager.