Motivating Those You Lead

Karen Otazo

Great sports coaches know that you can push athletes hard if you do it to take them to the next level. People can do amazing things when you really need them to stretch to get work done quickly or to cover for others. Setting “stretch goals” can be exciting and inspirational. Ask people who worked in Silicon Valley start-ups in the early days. They loved every minute of not sleeping, along with the ecstasy of being part of something exciting and new.

But there’s a dark side to “stretch goals.” People can get burned out or worn out and can feel as if they’re always being criticized for not doing the near-impossible. Criticism is part of working life. We all have to get it and give it, whether officially through ...