(77) I don't believe in shame as a tool for motivation. Some leaders seem to think if they make a person feel shamed enough, it'll keep them on the straight and narrow. I'm convinced it just makes them feel shamed, but then I've always preferred the carrot to the stick.With one exception.
When I first started running the local community group for local middle schoolers and high schoolers, I didn't have a organization credit card. I was just a college kid. So I ended up buying things with my own money and then asking for reinbursement (not a fun system). Usually this wasn't a bad scenario. Well for Christmas one year, I got the kids all T-shirts emblazoned with the name of our community group. They went nuts for them. Unfortunately, they cost $400. So imagine my surprise when I turn in my receipts to the account and then hear that the local church board woman is unwilling to reimburse me. Although the purchase of these T-shirts was approved by my director and by the rest of the staff, she didn't personally feel it was legitimate.
I tried calling her. I tried emailing her. Silence. Well a week before Christmas, I went to her local church and they were holding a Christmas Boutique. There she was with all her friends. So I walked right up in the middle of her friends and said this:
"Hello, Miss C._____. My name's Greg Perreault and I'm the one who works with the local community group. I really need you to reimburse me for the money I spent on the kids so that I can buy Christmas presents for my family."
She flushed bright red, and started stuttering over her words over the intense gaze of her friends. She couldn't sign that form fast enough.
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