When a leader primarily uses positive reinforcement,an occasional deserved punishment will seriously deter the employee's improvement plan.

If a leader primarily uses positive reinforcement, it is unlikely that an occasional deserved punishment will seriously deter the employee's improvement plan. Positive reinforcement focuses on rewarding desired behavior, rather than punishing undesired behavior, so the employee is more likely to respond positively to rewards and continue to exhibit the desired behavior. However, if a punishment is deemed necessary, it should be fair and consistent with previous consequences to maintain the credibility of the leader and the system.