Resistance and Negative Motivation

While I was studying Electrical Engineering for my Bachelor's Degree, I came across the concept called "Resistance". I learnt that Electricity flows through the path with the least resistance. The key word here is "Least Resistance".

When I apply this concept to human beings, it applies straight on!.

"People do not want to do difficult things".... "People don't want to do anything at all!".

Not only people want to be in the state of least resistance, meaning, they don't want to work hard, they even don't want to see others working hard, so, they prevent others from working.

These people also expect the best work conditions and the best pay for doing nothing. When they don't get what they want, they will complain that the "system is wrong !", "the management does not know what they are doing !", "if this continues, the company is sure to sink !", "the Manager gave you only 4 hours for a 16 hour task? do they think we are machines?", "the Manager does not have any experience in this subject!".

I am surprised when I come across individuals who say these words, it's ridiculous.


Buddy, do you even know what you are talking about? If you have seen something wrong in the system, have you ever tried to escalate the matter and suggested what can be possibly done to change the system? If  you know how to run a company, then why don't you start your own? Do you know what it takes to get to the Manager's position, leave alone commenting on what he/she knows or does not know? 


The above questions result in lame excuses and not answers: "my words will not have any impact!", "I am just a programmer here, why will they listen to me?", "no one will give me a loan to start my own company", "I have all skills to become a Manager, give me a chance and I will prove it!". The truth is that, this person does not even want to try, he/she wants a chance without having to work for it and earn it.


The principle of "Least Resistance" in people fuels the urge to "Negatively Motivate" others. More and more people get negatively motivated because it is very simple, very convincing and appeals to an individual's "heart" more than his "brain". All the education, all the learnings of knowing the "right" from the "wrong" goes out the window....

We now have a part of an organization that is "cancerous" and presents the risk spreading rapidly and killing an organization if not "treated" quickly and appropriately.

Who can treat this disease? .... Answer is: PEOPLE or EMPLOYEES.

People must differentiate the bad from the good. It's hard to identify a disgruntled employee or the reason of the disgruntlement, but the least an individual can do is UNDERSTAND the following points;

1. Your contribution is directly proportional to your growth in the company.
2. Trying and failing is better than not trying at all. Every trial, whether successful or failed, has a lesson to offer, it depends on you, whether you choose to learn or not.
3. If you find someone talking negative or complaining, compare this person's achievements and experience to yours. If that person has more experience then please ignore the negative comments. The company may be willing to tolerate this Negative Motivator for some time due to his/her past contributions and may be willing to give this person another chance to turn around. If you try to negatively motivate someone else and if you have not earned a good reputation as yet then you don't stand a chance. Use your maturity, if someone asks you to steal, hurt someone or jump traffic signals, what will you do? 
4. Not contributing to your organization, is BAD. Complaining why you cannot contribute or reasoning for your failure to contribute is WORSE. Preventing someone else from contributing is A DISASTROUS and will never be tolerated.

I am left with the thought "There are a hundred people who can tell why something cannot be done. A leader is one who says, it can be done and tries. It is he who will make difference to the world."