Seven Simple Rules to Create a Fear-Based Culture

By Scott Eblin Thursday, July 29, 2010 5:37 PM

Thanks to the readers of this blog, I’ve collected a really excellent list of things to do if you’re a leader who wants to create a culture of fear in your organization. Not that the readers and commenters are suggesting that you actually do these things.

Unfortunately, though, a lot of them have been on the receiving end of these behaviors and have witnessed the negative results. Sometimes these results are, as I wrote in a recent post, Fear Kills, matters of life and death. Most of the time they’re not. (At least not immediately. Working in a stress inducing, soul-sucking environment is never good for one’s life expectancy over the long haul.)

So, with the idea in mind that a good way to learn leadership is to do the opposite of what really crappy leaders do, here is an edited list of readers’ suggestions for seven simple rules for creating a fear based culture:

Kill the messenger. When someone brings you bad news, let them know through your spoken language, your body language, your tone of voice that you can’t handle the truth.

Thank the messenger and then ignore them. Give them a figurative pat on the head when they point out a problem and then go right ahead and do what you were going to do anyway. In no time, people will learn that you really don’t want to hear it.

Ignore the people on the front line. Better yet, make it impossible for them to get the real story to you. After all, they’re only the ones that are closest to the customers and the competition.

Let your insecurity run rampant. The troops love it when you do. Show them how insecure you are by micromanaging their every decision or move. Explode in rage when they do something without checking with you first. Pretty soon, they’ll be paralyzed with fear and nothing will happen without your personal involvement.

Defend yourself no matter what. If someone has the temerity to offer you some constructive feedback, give them at least three reasons why they’re wrong. Let’s get real; they don’t what it’s like to be you and deal with the pressure you’re under.

Tease them until they cry. Well, maybe not until they cry, but what’s wrong with them if they can’t take a joke? Your position of power makes you even funnier than you were before you were a boss. If you really want them rolling in the aisles, make jokes about job security. They love that.

Keep them guessing. Create an air of mystery about what mood you’re going to be in today. Benevolent dictator or ruthless tyrant? Only your lackeys will know for sure. Everyone else will be on pins and needles about how to act around you until you spring the mood of the day on them.

I know what you’re thinking – only seven rules? There are way more than seven. These are just the ones that were inspired by reader comments. (Thanks everyone.) We all have our favorite rules for creating a fear based culture. What’s your favorite?

Calling an idiot an idiot – a new strategy for the War on Scary Terror Monsters?

I’ve long maintained that your suicide bomber is not the brightest star in Allah’s heaven.  This article is great and calls into question the strategy of turning these religious idiots into some kind of supermen.  Short of actually starting a speed dating culture in these countries, pointing out how desperately stupid and uncool it is may be a great way of discouraging further jihad-ism.  Just in case you think this article exagerattes, please note that Ghulam Sakhi, a “senior Taliban commander” (read:  cowardly, bigoted idiot) was killed trying to hide in women’s clothing last week.  Ooh – that’s honorable eh?

it’s fair to say that the Taliban employ the world’s worst suicide bombers: one in two manages to kill only himself. And this success rate hasn’t improved at all in the five years they’ve been using suicide bombers, despite the experience of hundreds of attacks—or attempted attacks. In Afghanistan, as in many cultures, a manly embrace is a time-honored tradition for warriors before they go off to face death. Thus, many suicide bombers never even make it out of their training camp or safe house, as the pressure from these group hugs triggers the explosives in suicide vests

via The Case for Calling Them Nitwits – Magazine – The Atlantic.

Wu-Tang Name Generator

Wu-Tang Name Generator.  I’m “Mighty Leader” – no sh*t!

Someone didn’t read the marketing directions I was given

Any excuse for a Tru-Blood picture:

New Zealand Blood Service is using vampire show to call for donations The New Zealand Blood Service said it is promoting its need for more blood donations through the “True Blood” television series. The move is aimed at getting the younger audience targeted by the show to start regularly donating blood. The campaign organizers are “capitalizing on a cultural phenomenon in a way that might serve them well,” an expert said.  Dominion Post (New Zealand), The (5/17)

See the actual news here:  Latest News – NZ Blood.

As strange as fiction

I’m pretty sure this is from some kind of mythic story, isn’t it?

After the marriage contract was signed, the ambassador attempted to kiss his bride-to-be. It was only then that he discovered her facial hair and eyes.

via Arab ambassador discovers bride is bearded and cross-eyed behind veil – Telegraph.

Puppy of War

It's just cute

Puppy Tweets to come

Oh boy – of course I want one.  Reminds me of Kliban’s dog language translator where all the dogs are running around barking, then, when you turn the translator on, it shows them all saying “Hey”, ”Hey”,”Hey”,”Hey”,”Hey”,”Hey”.  This might be bigger than the iTablet.

or not:

Puppy Tweets is a plastic tag with a sound and motion sensor that you attach to your pet's dog collar and connect its USB receiver to your computer. Then you create a Twitter account for your dog and enjoy updates all day from Sparky or whatever its name is on your computer or smartphone.

via Mattel takes innovation to the dogs with its Puppy Tweets – Jan. 21, 2010.

FT Confuses a continent with a brand – not

All right – I am a dumbass – I thought they were talking about the owners of Indian motorcycles.  Oops: via FT.com / UK – Harley revs up to attract Indian fans. Guess I should have known better if the Financial Times was discussing it.

Harley-Davidson is the latest of the world's motorcycle brands to target the Indian consumer. The country is the world's second-largest two-wheeler market after China, with sales of 3.52m units in the first half of the fiscal year ending next March, up 15 per cent against a year earlier.

Dillie the pet deer

Watch the deer on the bed and playing on the plastic sheet. Too funny:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Hey, you with the firebomb! Wrong house!

Rarely the brightest bulbs on the Christmas tree of life:

THOMSON, Ga. – An east Georgia man trying to get revenge on his estranged girlfriend by firebombing her home was being held without bond after he threw the device into the wrong house, police said.

via Hey, you with the firebomb! Wrong house! – Criminal weirdness- msnbc.com.