#10. On carrots, sticks, and how we lead here

Recently, in the middle of this transition I am navigating, a thought caught me off guard.
I was sitting in a casual meeting over coffee when someone mentioned the old idea of the carrot and the stick as a management style.
It is a phrase I have heard countless times, but I realised I had never stopped to truly put into words what it means in practice or to reflect on how we lead here in Australia.

Because we live and work immersed in it, it is almost invisible. We rarely step back to name it or challenge it.

That single comment sparked something in me.

I began to notice how, here, management often leans towards inspiring rather than controlling.
It is about giving people a reason to believe.
It is collaboration over coercion.
When you can paint a vision clear enough that others can see themselves in it, they begin to drive themselves.
You no longer need to hold the reins tightly; the motivation becomes internal.

That led me to ask myself: what drives me?

 Now that I no longer own MadeComfy, and I am standing at the edge of new goals, what is the carrot I hold in my own hands?

Of course, financial reward matters and it always will. But for me, it is deeper.
It is knowing clearly where I am going so I can move with strength.
It is my reputation, ensuring that what I build delivers what it promises.
It is the growth I gain from meeting the challenges in front of me.

And then I thought of the stick.
In our context, perhaps it is the quiet threat of losing a job.
But in a country like Australia, with low unemployment and options for those who seek them, is that really a motivator, or does it erode psychological safety instead?
If people feel they must constantly fear for their security, how can they give their best work with an open heart?

As I shape my next chapter, these reflections feel more relevant than ever. The way we lead, whether by fear or by inspiration, inevitably shapes not just our teams, but ourselves.

What motivates you most deeply when you think about your own work and goals?

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