Also in business, when dealing with customers. Within our own company, on the other hand, it is often thought to be a different matter. Many people in authority think that management means treating people harshly, in a way they would not want to be treated themselves. In some industries it seems that threats and intimidation are the way to get things done. A lot has to do with tradition.
People tend to pattern themselves after the managers they worked for in the past.
The trouble is, many do not have very good models to follow. Any form of caring is considered a sign of weakness to such people. If you are too nice, traditional managers say, people will take advantage of you. You've got to be tough to win peoples' respect. Yet, it must be quite obvious that fear cannot be a very effective management tool.