Customer Reviews

Discipline Without Punishment: The Proven Strategy That Turns Problem Employees into Superior Performers

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Grote's writing style is easy and captivating. Puts discussing difficult issues with employees into perspective. Highly recommended for any supervisor or manager that will deal with a difficult employee situation.....and guess what....eventually you will! A must read. Being used in our training program for future supervisors.

The system and principles laid out in Grote's book make sense. Traditional systems of discipline are largely ineffective because of their punitive nature. And because traditional systems are adversarial, they are often shunned by managers who (understandably) want to avoid conflict. The book is easy to read and uses examples of realistic dialogue between supervisor and employee. As a Human Resource Management practitioner, I highly recommend this book.

For over sixty years the system for dealing with unsatisfactory work performance has remained the same. When a problem appears, a manager will talk to an employee informally. If the problem continues, the employee receives a verbal reprimand, followed by a written warning. Then, various punishments are applied to the offender including probation, unpaid suspension and eventually, dismissal. This traditional system is based on the idea of progressively worse punishment. Managers see the discipline system as a way to dismiss employees. While he worked at Frito Lay, Dick Grote designed a new discipline system, with the goal of saving employees, rather than dismissing them.

This new system, called Discipline Without Punishment, was put into practice at Frito Lay with phenomenal results, and has since been implemented at hundreds of companies. Discipline Without Punishment starts with the notion that good performance must be rewarded. When good behavior is not recognized, people have less reason to continue it. Mediocre performance may not require disciplinary action, but it shouldn't be rewarded. You should save recognition for those who try hard to do their best.

The book, Discipline Without Punishment, by Dick Grote was very enlightening. I've been in management over 20 years and found his suggestions to be thought provoking and backed by common sense. I agree with his explanation and examples demonstrating that corporate disciplinary practices are outdated and ineffective. His solutions have reinforced my preference for frequent, positive reinforcement. I do hope more companies begin to move away from the disciplinary practices of the past and update their human resource techniques for dealing with people and performance issues. He is on the right track and others need to jump on board! In regard to this purchase it was quick, easy and the book came in excellent condition at an unbelieveable price. The value of the information was worth so much more! I recently graduated from a master's degree program and this book came highly recommended for the class by a classmate.

I thought it was a pretty good book and had some good ideas in it.

Simple and effective way to address employee problems and get real (& positive) results without using typical old-fashioned punishing procedures (verbal & written reprimands, leave w/o pay, etc). Creates a win-win way to change behavior. Wish he would have spend more time & detail on coaching and the other managerial aspects that should take place between a supervisor and his/her workers (ie: those things that may prevent having to use the actual "disciplining").