The Question
Describe a situation where drawing the line made things worse.
Why it Matters
Drawing the line is effective when no other alternatives are available, but often we unnecessarily draw lines when we feel like our authority is being challenged or we sense a loss of control. This reduces degrees of freedom for both parties involved, forces a narrow choice point, and creates a path of no return if the line is crossed. It also focuses the energies of everyone involved on differences instead of commonalities.