Did you ever threaten an employee? Not in the “I will kill you in your sleep” way, but in the “there will be consequences” way, when certain actions must or must not be performed. It happens more quickly than you might think, even if you consider yourself kind and patient. Everyone can unwillingly be ‘threatening’ an employee by pointing out obvious or logical consequences of their actions. You have to ask yourself though: am I pointing out this consequence because it’s relevant, or am I saying this because I’m coming from a position of threat, rather than trust? It matters. Here’s why.  

It shows you don’t believe in your team 

If you threaten your employees, you show that you feel the need to control them, that you don’t trust them. Of course, you don’t always know what your employees are up to, you’re not by their side every moment (nor should you be) but if you don’t trust them, they’ll feel you looking over their shoulder, even when you aren’t. There’s nothing that creates a lack of motivation and a negative work atmosphere like employees who feel micromanaged. A team that isn’t cohesive, and that is wary, will produce only what they are asked, just the bare minimum, and will never go the extra mile or collaborate with you when it comes to improving and innovating. You need everyone in your team on board when it comes to change. Everyone on board ensures change happens smoothly, and that you’re investing in the right changes. Your team’s two cents is likely worth much more than that. 

Threat leads to fear, fear leads to incidents 

Employees who perceive your words as threats, however small they may be, will become fearful. Fearful employees won’t mention incidents, near-misses, potential risks they observe, or concerns they have because they are afraid that whatever they mention will be seen as a mistake of theirs. And they will be afraid of the consequences they feel threatened with. Everything that goes unreported adds to risk, especially in already risky environments. High-risk work floors are places where threat makes the most sense to keep employees in line when it comes to safety procedures because the consequences are real and dangerous, but it’s in those environments where trust rather than threat eliminates further risk, and creates a true safety culture in which all employees willingly participate. 

You won’t be challenged, so you won’t learn 

Every quality leader knows one thing for sure: how much they don’t know. Being open to learning is what makes someone a good manager. If your team members fear you, they will never challenge your ideas, and that is how you end up in a rut. If you’re not challenged, you’ll never grow. 

Ask yourself every day where you’re coming from when you’re leading your team: trust, or threat. What’s the result for you, and how can you make sure you’re on the trust side according to you?

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