Positive leadership yields performance and profitability

摘要

Want to improve your bowling score? Which might be more helpful, having others tell you what you're doing wrong, or being told what you're doing right? In a fascinating experiment, Dr Daniel Kirschenbaum, a sports psychologist at the University of Wisconsin, videotaped groups of bowlers (Kirschenbaum, 1984). He then edited the tapes, creating two different versions. In one version, he deleted any examples of poor bowling performance, leaving only images of proper bowling techniques. In the second version of the tape, he deleted any examples of good performance, leaving only images of poor bowling style. He then used the tapes to give lessons to the same groups of bowlers. Some groups viewed an edited tape showing only examples of proper bowling techniques. The lessons emphasized repeating what had worked for them. Other groups viewed an edited tape, seeing only examples of poor bowling. Their lessons focused on not repeating prior mistakes.