This is the eBook version of the printed book.

This Element is an excerpt from The Truth About Being a Leader (9780131873384) by Karen Otazo. Available in print and digital formats.

The right ways to motivate—and how to avoid counterproductive “demotivational” techniques.

Great sports coaches know 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. But there’s a dark side to “stretch goals.”