The Truth About Creating Effective Feedback Loops with Your Employees

William S. Kane

One Style Does Not Fit All

Early management science suggested that there were two schools of thought when it came to style: Theory “X” and Theory “Y”—with little in between.

With Theory X, managers believe that most workers have an inherent dislike for work and will avoid it if they can. They also wish to avoid responsibility and have relatively little ambition. Therefore, most people must be coerced, controlled, directed, or threatened with punishment to get them to put forth adequate effort.

With Theory Y, people enjoy work as a natural extension of their being. They welcome learning and actively seek responsibility. They exhibit self-control and self-direction ...