I worked for a boss who thought the best way to motivate people was to pressure them. Sometimes she would give us unreasonably tight timelines. Other times, she would use metrics to try and pressure to better productivity.

People will focus on the thing which is causing pressure. If you hold them accountable for meeting a tight timeline, they will subconsciously sacrifice other things to meet your deadlines, such as quality or customer value.

Never use unreasonable expectations to motivate people. Instead, motivate them by giving them ownership for their work. Your job is to support them through removing barriers, supporting their growth, and celebrating their accomplishments (even the small ones)!

You’ve got this.