Is it better for a person in a position of authority to be loved of feared?

Question

Please use some examples.

Answer 1

I guess it depends on how this person of authority wants to motivate those below him/her and how he wants them to think of him/her. Fear being a good motivator is a myth - at least long term. Sure, if someone is afraid of you he will most likely obey, but in the long run, the negativity of this could turn on the authority.
A loved autoritative figure will most likely have more respect, which is a much better motivator. If you're respected, people will be more willing to go the extra mile and will most likely not complain and try to pull you down.

For example, if you're afraid that your boss will fire you, than you will work so that you don't get fired. Because of this fear, you will not approach your boss and will not think of your boss as a good person. Bad for your boss because he gets slackers.

If you love/respect your boss and have no fear of being fired, you will probably like your job and be more productive - which might get you a raise or promotion. Good for your boss because he has motivated, productive staff members.

Answer 2

You say: "if you are going to answer, please just answer, don't quote other scriptures because i am asking about these ones" That's a very arbitrary standard of proof you have there. When you can cut out specific verses and then limit what you'll accept as evidence, there's really not anything anyone can do to help you understand -- if understanding is really what you're looking for. Let me suggest that -- since you won't accept other verses from me -- that you engage in a study about God the Father. Find what you can about what God says about Himself, like the names he uses (like shepherd). Take a look also at the activities he declares belong only to Himself, and no one else (like the right to judge). Then look at the praise that He declares is His own (like worship and His own glorification.) Next, undertake the same study, but focused on Jesus. You know what you'll find? You'll find that throughout scripture, Jesus claimed for Himself, reserved for Himself, and called Himself, exactly the same things! You see, it's not a verse or two or ten that claims Jesus is God. It is the whole of scripture. Jesus was very aware that He was equating Himself with God in the many things he did and said and reserved and proclaimed. He does not give us the option of deciding that He's a good man, or a prophet, or an angel, or anything else. Our only option is to decide whether or not He was God or a liar or a nut job.

Answer 3

I think that question has been around for a long time. I'm not sure of the word LOVED....but I am sure not to use fear.
I use to have a boss that said " he wanted everyone to tremble when he walked in to a room"...Most of them did..that's where the Bu * *
kissing began.
My theory is put the carrot before the horse...
You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar.
If the employee does not respond to respect and kindness then you don't need them.

The best boss I ever had, I told him I forgot more than he would ever know about the job! He agreed.

Answer 4

I think it depends on what sort of society you are living in.

In the United States, I think it would be more important to be loved, since most authority positions are chosen by election.

In other countries, though, where those in authority are in "control", fear is going to be a great motivator.

Answer 5

Here is what Machiavelli had to say:
"This gives rise to an argument: whether it is better to be loved than feared, or the opposite. The answer is that one would like to be both, but since it is difficult to combine the two it is much safer to be feared than loved, if one of the two has to make way. For generally speaking, one can say the following about men: they are ungrateful, inconsistent, feigners and dissimulators, avoiders of danger, eager for gain, and whilst it profits them they are all yours. They will offer you their blood, their property, their life and their offspring when your need for them is remote. But when your needs are pressing, they turn away. The prince who depends entirely on their words perishes when he finds he has not taken any other precautions. This is because friendships purchased with money and not by greatness and nobility of spirit are paid for, but not collected, and when you need them they cannot be used. Men are less worried about harming somebody who makes himself loved than someone who makes himself feared, for love is held by a chain of obligation which, since men are bad, is broken at every opportunity for personal gain. Fear, on the other hand, is maintained by a dread of punishment which will never desert you."
from "The Prince"

This having been said, ask yourself who you think were the better leaders; ones that were generally loved like Buddha, Jesus, Ghandi, or Martin Luther King or leaders who were generally feared like Nero, Ghengis Khan, Stalin, or Hitler.

Answer 6

"Respect" is more what you should be going for.

I had a boss that everyone in the office feared. His jobs were slow to get done because everyone walked on eggshells. He was a brooding man who spoke in grunts and never looked anyone in the eye.
Luckily the man over his head brought laughter into our pitiful lives. Now, HE had a ready smile, was funny, well liked, respected, and his jobs got done on the spot.
.

Answer 7

Loved, If the people under them cease to fear them, they will destroy them.
The French revolution, The American revolution, Julius Cesar,
president Nixon, History is filled with leaders that were killed by their enemies.

Answer 8

I bought all of my guys gold guns for christmas, and the girls whatever fit their personality. And did my best to lead by example, with care and understanding. Even finished first to go back and pull the underdogs up so they would not look bad(cause theyre not). No one knew I was doing that, cept the lower enlisted.And would leave things for them on their bunk in appreciation for the teamwork. Got in trouble protecting them. etc

Answer 9

neither - it is better to respect them

i really did not like my 11th grade math teacher back in the day, but i respected her intelligence and her drive to teach.

Answer 10

As someone who has a morbid fascination with the dark side, I would go for the feared.