Motivation is About Enhancing Social Reference ... Social references are very important to people. The positive or negative references when one is rewarded or penalised provides intensity to its impact. Thus the age-old advise, compliment in public and chastise in private. Mature & Inspirational leadership is ever so mindful and sensitive to recognise this human need for social reference. The easiest way to disengage & demoralise employees is by reducing his comparable stature of his peer reference in public.