You have learned that positive consequences cause behavior to be repeated, and there are two forms of behaviors, on-task and off-task.
The "Catch ‘em Game" refers to the management practice of catching people in off-task behaviors and punishing them.
This is the outdated "slap and point" style of leadership, just doesn't work in the 21st century. We need to employ the servant—situational style of leadership that offers the employee the benefit if the doubt.
In order to motivate the employee, we should reverse this process and "catch" people being good. In other words, avoid the tendency to punish off-task behavior and instead reward on-task behavior.
Punishment Behavior followed by a negative consequence (i.e. a negative reinforce) is less likely to be repeated in the future. A negative reinforcement is a punishment, something one would like to avoid or get rid of (i.e. pain, criticism, ridicule).
Although punishment (presenting a negative reinforcement) can lead to a decrease in undesirable behavior, there are certain side effects that can occur and detract from the overall effectiveness of using punishment:
- Behavior may only be temporarily suppressed.
- Punished behavior will tend to reoccur when the punisher is absent
- The punished individual will tend to avoid the punisher
- The punished individual may become "anxious" and strike out at someone else in his or her environment
- The individual will only do what is absolutely mandatory to avoid punishment, and you will not get him or her to use discretionary energy in a positive way.
Rick Johnson, Executive Advisor, Expert Speaker, Wholesale Distribution's "Leadership Strategist", founder of CEO Strategist, LLC a firm that helps clients create and maintain competitive advantage. Need a speaker for your next event, E-mail rick@ceostrategist.com. www.ceostrategist.com 
