During the last two weeks I have met several times discussing the role it can play the fear as a factor of leadership. In all cases, the debate has been generated after presenting my point about the purpose of leadership: the will to act to mobilize people towards a collective goal shared and balanced with individual goals of those same people.
This approach leads me to conclude that leadership is effective when directed and get that people want to do, not simply that people do.
Several people have suggested that, then, fear is a tool to exercise leadership. And it could get to be people who see it as an effective instrument to fear since it is clear that people want to do. To be sure, in these dialogues we focus on fear, not the concern generated by a negative trend or a difficult environment.
That fear is one of the motor emotions in the behavior of people is undeniable. Before we start threatening our mechanisms for reflection and action. Therefore, I agree with that fear is a tool to get people to want to do. And history is full of examples of mass mobilization through fear. But, what a coincidence!, When I look at these examples for all purpose in meeting a person who used fear as a factor leading to unethical and human rights.
Beyond ethical issues, we can analyze the issue from another dimension. In our society organizations of any kind whatsoever, whether persons exercising leadership is expected to enable their teams to achieve results. Besides, I dare say that in all cases expects that facilitate the attainment of sustainable and effective results over time. And, therefore, are expected to exercise the leadership that these people will ensure a sustained momentum in the people they work with based on a relationship of mutual influence and generating healthy compromises and complicity.
And fear not used to that. Imagine a manager or board that provides leadership, bullying, both in form and in its decisions and managing their authority. Safe driving the effort of the people in your team and get them to do. But in this case, what is the motive that drives people to want to do? Just avoid the predictable response of the management or board, which is what creates fear in people. Surely in no case is the excellence, quality or the satisfaction of accomplishment. And what happens when the element that causes fear is not present? Well, people do not need to mobilize their will and simply do not do. And the fear is that, when applied from a position of authority, is like a drug. You have to gradually increase the dose to continue to generate cash. And this is also possible to find many examples in history.
Fear is one of our engines because emotions have an important role in the survival of the species. Like physical pain response. And it is true that it is an instrument of manipulation of companies operating in limited time periods. But does not play a positive role as a factor in leadership. Except as may be called terrorist leadership, if terrorist leadership and are terms that can be attached.
Technically, the word that defines what I do professionally is a consultant. Therefore, put on my business card, if any, and consultant. Although there are many people who consider me a trainer. Well, whatever the word is that it can be used to label my work, what they contributed is related to the development of people and organizations. The experiences and my interests have been leading me to specialize in leadership, management development, in creating highly competitive teams and management processes of transformation and change. 
