carrot and stick

a type of system that rewards individuals for some of their actions and punishes or threatens them for some of their other actions

The idiom "carrot and stick" refers to a strategy that combines both rewards (the "carrot") and punishment (the "stick") to motivate or influence someone's behavior. The origin of this expression can be traced to the imagery of motivating a donkey to move by dangling a carrot in front of it while also threatening to strike it with a stick if it doesn't comply. This approach has been used historically to guide or incentivize individuals, often in situations where they may be resistant or reluctant.

The company implemented a carrot-and-stick approach to boost employee performance by offering bonuses for meeting targets and issuing warnings for underperformance.
In parenting, using a carrot and stick strategy can help children learn and behave by offering rewards for good behavior and consequences for misbehavior.
The government is using a carrot and stick method to encourage citizens to get vaccinated, offering incentives while also imposing restrictions on the unvaccinated.
To motivate herself to complete a challenging project, she used a carrot-and-stick approach by rewarding herself with a treat for each completed task and setting a deadline with consequences for delays.
In diplomacy, countries may employ a carrot and stick policy to encourage or discourage certain behaviors, offering trade benefits while threatening sanctions for non-compliance.