Is it better to rule with love or fear? (death, border, ideology)

[GloryB]

I'm not sure a great leader could rule based on either of the two choices.

[purehuman]

If you rule with love, you will have respect and support....if you rule with fear,you better not turn your back.

[temptation001]

If you rule with love, you better be sleeping with the vice president. If you rule with fear, you better make sure the vice president tastes all your food first.

[GregW]

I suggest neither is appropriate in most situations. I have found that carefully explaining why a job needs to be done for the good of the individual and the company is far more effective than just ordering someone to just "do it". This approach makes people part of the team and results in better work due to self discipline as well as peer pressure.

I cannot speak for others but attempting to frighten me into doing something is very counterproductive because I will not only do the task reluctantly I will look for another job. I do not frighten easily and resent anyone trying. Controlling that part of my personality has been difficult because unlimited violence was a survival method in ‘Nam and some lessons are very hard to unlearn.

[TKramar]

Let them hate me, so long as they fear me.

[JohnHAdams]

E Germany ruled with fear and fared very poorly compared to W Germany. It had Europes second highest suicide rate...behind Hungary.

I think fear has its place in certain leadership roles. The military definitely rules with fear.

My suspicion is that a large percentage will rule with fear *if* they can get away with it. It is the simplist, most animalistic thing to do. Animal herds are normally ruled by fear from the the groups leader...I think. The groups leader generally being the best fighter.

[JohnHAdams]

China rules with fear. As does Saudi Arabia and, well, many other countries.

Our own government made a very large shift towards ruler ship by fear under the Bushbarians. Shoot....I've been threatened dozens of times.

[JohnHAdams]

I think leadership through example, competency, and maintaining a positive environment is the most effective.

Leadership through love? How does that work? Half the people would walk all over that.

Now the Bushbarians were able to get re-elected via leadership through terror.

[Luke9686]

Neither. The rule of law should reign supreme over all other types of ruling.

[JohnHAdams]

Originally Posted by Luke9686

Neither. The rule of law should reign supreme over all other types of ruling.

Ahhh.....the Police State concurs.

E Germany certainly would have agreed.