There's a line in the BlackBerry film that struck a nerve.
"Why do you think these guys work 80-hour weeks?"
I've been in rooms where that question was never asked. Where the assumption was simple: push harder, demand more, and people will deliver.
They do. Until they don't. And by then, you've lost something you can't get back.
I spent years as a team lead thinking about this. Not how to get more from people, but what makes them actually want to give it.
Fear works short-term. So does money. But commitment? That comes from somewhere else.
Feeling heard. Having autonomy. Knowing your lead sees you as a person, not a line on a spreadsheet.
The stick gets compliance. The carrot gets discretionary effort.
If you're leading a team, ask yourself honestly: why do your people show up?
If the only answer is "because they're paid to" — that's a warning sign, not a win.
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