From a personal perspective, I tend to subscribe to the idea of at least trying to keep people motivated and happy in their work, whilst being prepared to wield a big stick as required. It make for a better and and more productive unit and on the rare occassion that the stick comes out, people then realise you are serious.
Couldn't agree more. Did anyone ever get their "first choice" of posting? I never did, in my 18 years. Or my second choice. At posting time it seemed to me the system was trying to screw me and my family around as often as possible. I accepted that I could be screwed around but my wife and kids hadn't signed up for that.