Always remember that the world is run by C students. CEOs aren't immune to this. They tend to be social climbers, not "the best and brightest".
I've been in jobs where HR was helpful. If it's being used coercively, that's lazy management passing the buck. If an HR person goes along with it, it's because they lack the competence to do their job, or the confidence to stand up against it.
If you achieve a position of leadership, remember that your job is not to boss people around, it's your job to give them the tools and training to do their jobs, remove obstacles that keep work from getting done, and if the job still isn't getting done, it's your job to figure out why not. If, after all that, the employee isn't working, counsel them, encourage them, and if necessary, encourage them out the door. If an employee is productive, leave them alone. If management wants "more productivity" and your people are already working hard and producing, turning the screws on your own people will only dork it all up. You'll need to innovate or reorganize things to increase productivity.
A mentally lazy boss who just makes demands of everyone is destructive. A leader is someone who convinces others they should work hard for a common goal.