Editing Leadership (section)

====Positive reinforcement====
[[B. F. Skinner]] is the father of [[behavior modification]] and developed the concept of [[positive reinforcement]]. Positive reinforcement occurs when a positive stimulus is presented in response to a behavior, which increases the likelihood of that behavior in the future.<ref>{{cite book|last=Miltenberger|first=R.G.|year=2004|title=Behavior Modification Principles and Procedures|edition=3rd|location=Belmont, California|publisher=Wadsworth/Thomson Learning}}</ref> The following is an example of how positive reinforcement can be used in a business setting. Assume [[praise]] is a positive reinforcer for a particular employee. This employee does not show up to work on time every day. The manager decides to praise the employee for showing up on time every day the employee actually shows up to work on time. As a result, the employee comes to work on time more often because the employee likes to be praised. In this example, praise (the stimulus) is a positive reinforcer for this employee because the employee arrives at work on time (the behavior) more frequently after being praised for showing up to work on time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.simplypsychology.org/operant-conditioning.html|title = Operant Conditioning (B.F. Skinner)|website= Simply Psychology| year=2007 | last1=McLeod | first1=Saul }}</ref>

Positive reinforcement is a successful technique used by leaders to motivate and attain desired behaviors from subordinates. Organizations such as Frito-Lay, 3M, Goodrich, Michigan Bell, and Emery Air Freight have all used reinforcement to increase productivity.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Lussier|first1=R.N.|last2=Achua|first2=C. F.|year=2010|title=Leadership, Theory, Application, & Skill Development|edition=4th|location=Mason, Ohio|publisher=South-Western Cengage Learning}}</ref> Empirical research covering the last 20 years{{update inline|reason="last" ending when?|date=August 2023}} suggests that applying [[reinforcement theory]] leads to a 17 percent increase in performance. Additionally, many reinforcement techniques such as the use of praise are inexpensive, providing higher performance for lower costs.