June 2003

During times of change, leaders must function as turnaround people and keep attitude upbeat.

By Bill Dyer

We all know the symbolism of a hard hat. They remind us that people are our most valuable asset and safe operations come first. In that way, they protect us from physical risks. This article is about using your hard hat for another form of protection, against a subtle danger that can kill productivity and profitability—a negative attitude.
I once worked with the paving division of an aggregates company. It had recently been bought out, so there were tons of changes taking place. After interviewing a group of supervisors, I heard numerous negative comments surrounding the recent buyout.
During our seminar, they began to see how these attitudes and the resulting emotions were taking a serious toll on production. People were going through the motions. Work was sloppy. Quality went down. Crew personnel showed up late. People got fired. People quit. Jobs took longer to complete. Schedules were missed. Crews criticized each other’s work and pointed fingers. Even customer confidence was shaken when clients saw what was happening. Had the behavior continued, disaster was eminent.
It’s good to understand that such reactive thoughts are part of human nature. Therefore, if you are the change initiator, it is critical to know what attitudes get generated, how widespread and intense they are, who has adopted them, and what impact they are having at every level of your organization. Without knowing, it’s not possible to turn things around if need be.
On the other hand, if you are a manager who comes to work and gets change news that you had no part in planning, it may go over like a lead balloon. Now you are on the other side of the equation, and it’s easy for negativity to creep in. The degree to which that happens will determine how much of a negative impact there will be on you and those around you.
At times, it can be difficult to catch yourself in negative thinking, which is why it is very good to have a way to be reminded about your attitudes and their impact.
Several years ago, I was having lunch with a friend. We had both launched professional speaking careers within the last year and our discussion turned to the challenges of growing our businesses. We always put issues on the table and shared ideas to help one another move forward.
This day was different though. I told my friend about a recent challenge, complaining about the difficulties, and how overwhelmed I felt. I went on and on and on …
My friend sat there, listening and indicating that she understood where I was coming from. When I finished my saga, she looked me in the eye and said, “I understand. So, what are you going to do about it?” Immediately, I saw how I was wallowing in my self-pity and acting like I couldn’t make new choices.
As an outsider looking in, my friend noticed my negative thoughts before I did. She reminded me to accept responsibility for creating and causing desired outcomes. She reminded me to choose a more productive way to spend my time. I stopped reacting and spent the rest of the afternoon proactively thinking and planning how to move forward.
My friend helped me get back on track. But what if she hadn’t been there for me? What if she had agreed with me and then shared all of her problems? We may have sat there complaining together all afternoon. When people are in agreement about their complaints surrounding change, it’s easy to lose focus on the big picture and sabotage success moving forward. We see that in the example of the paving crews I mentioned earlier.
That’s why we need reminders to check our attitude and make shifts where needed. Like my friend, other people can remind you. But, what if that kind of person isn’t around? This is where your hard hat comes into play. You can use it for mental protection. Hard hats can be a reminder that you are leading people with your attitude (positive or negative) and, as a leader, must be responsible for what you project.
When you see a hard hat, reflect on your attitude, your interaction with others, and how it contributes to a successful outcome. You can be the catalyst who turns everything around or you can be the catalyst who lets negativity abound.
As a leader, you are a turnaround person. You understand how a negative outlook is one of the biggest killers of human productivity. When you notice such outlooks in yourself, or spot them in others, you choose to make an attitude shift and blaze a new trail being upbeat and positive. You lead by example and create an environment to win.
Be hardheaded about letting negativity in. Have a hard hat in your car, office, bathroom, and home. You never know when you might need a reminder.

Bill Dyer is a professional speaker and trainer for Quantum Leap Resources, Greensboro, N.C.