This Leadership Course is Torture

[dposborne]

Right? HR/leadership teaches you how to convince them that, not only do they really want to do it, but it was their idea to begin with! To me, that is just manipulation. I cannot stand to be manipulated, and feel greasy doing that to someone else, whatever the reason or purpose.

Have you ever worked in a bargaining unit environment as a manager? More times than not all you really have to rely on is your persuasive/motivational abilities to get jobs done. It really takes an act of god to fire someone in the union so managers have to resort to other methods of "getting the job done through others"
I would say that knowing different techniques to motivate employees is beneficial in this situation. Also knowing when and how to use different leadership styles can be a huge plus. Different situations call for different types of direction for the team. Sometimes the non-motivated or inexperienced may need some extra guidance with a more authoritarian type of leadership, other times a simple participative style will do.