Created with Sketch.
The Austin Company
  • Contact Us
  • Austin Consulting
  • Spanish
  • Why Austin
    • Leadership Team
    • Austin Past and Present
    • Safety
    • Results, Not Excuses
    • Project Gallery
  • Markets
    • Aerospace and Defense
    • Food and Beverage
    • Pharmaceutical and Biotech
    • Automotive
    • Industrial Manufacturing
    • Process Industries
    • Utility Plant Support
    • Commercial
  • Services
    • Design and Engineering
    • Construction
    • Facility Maintenance
    • Location Consulting
    • Planning
    • Development and Financing
  • Subcontractors
  • Careers
  • News & Blog
  • Why Austin
    • Leadership
    • Austin Past and Present
    • Safety
    • Results, Not Excuses
    • Project Gallery
  • Markets
    • Aerospace and Defense
    • Food and Beverage
    • Pharmaceutical and Biotech
    • Automotive
    • Industrial Manufacturing
    • Process Industries
    • Utility Plant Support
    • Commercial
  • Services
    • Design and Engineering
    • Construction
    • Facility Maintenance
    • Location Consulting
    • Planning
    • Development and Financing
  • Subcontractors
  • Careers
  • News & Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Austin Consulting
Home > Perceptions and Positivity: Balancing the Good with the Bad
NEWS & BLOG

December 9, 2014 posted in Organizational Values, Personal Development

Perceptions and Positivity: Balancing the Good with the Bad

Headshot of Michael G Pierce

Mike Pierce

President and CEO

Call 440.544.2607 Email Mike View Profile

One of the last chapters of Scaling Up Excellence is titled “Bad is Stronger than Good”. The focus of this chapter deals with people’s perceptions and how their experiences shape them. Bad events have a stronger, more lasting effect. Bad events are also more contagious. Psychologists studying this phenomenon have defined what they refer to as a “five-to-one” rule:

“Positive and good interactions must outnumber the negative and bad interactions by at least five-to-one, in order for the overall perspective to be positive.”

Within your organization, what constitutes a bad or negative interaction? Or, more simply, what ticks you off or disappoints you? A missed deadline? People talking over one another in a meeting? A rude email? Poor quality work? The point here is that it takes five deadlines made, five orderly meetings, etc. to leave you with the impression that the negative interactions were not reflective of the organization.

Everyone in an organization can double a positive effect by acknowledging it, thanking people for their timeliness to a meeting, and acknowledging a job well done. And, here’s the kicker – by doing so, we raise the bar of expectations by appreciating good interactions.

Our insurance carrier, Liberty Mutual, performs regular site inspections of our construction sites. Their site inspection reports include photographs and comments, both good and bad, of their findings. But it is the acknowledgement of the good experiences that are the most encouraging. Because the reports include mostly positive examples of excellent safety practices (we have an exemplary safety record), and the reports are shared at the highest levels in the Company, the visits are not unwelcome. The rare negative examples are accepted as fair and constructive, and the expectation is that safety is the highest priority on a job site.

Positive feedback is vital and its impact should never be underestimated. At the same time, we need to make sure we are not mistaking negativity for skepticism. Interestingly, the previous chapter to “Bad is Stronger than Good” discusses the importance of checks and balances to confirmation bias, in which the group only listens to the information that confirms what they think. Skeptics play an important role in an organization. They may always be the ones pointing out why something won’t work. Their perspective, while being perceived as negative, may trigger the strategy that accelerates the team toward the goal.

Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman postulated the “Peak-end Rule”: His research indicates that decisions are based on experiences and one’s perspective of an experience is disproportionately impacted by the best and worst moments, and whether the experience ended well, or badly. If bad is five times stronger than good, it is imperative we keep “bad” out, especially as it nears the end.

In the context of our daily work, the interactions we should be most concerned about involve our interactions with customers – both internal and external. Throughout the day, think about the interactions we have. Each one is an opportunity to move the ball forward by spreading some good; whether it’s encouragement, good will, respecting others, having empathy for their challenges, meeting or exceeding expectations, or holding peers accountable by setting the example of holding yourself accountable.

It is the contribution each individual can make and it really takes no extra effort.

At the same time, we need to be open to skepticism. While it can be viewed as negative thought, the disciplined mind, the self-confident organization will encourage it. Recognize it’s potential. Then embrace it with a smile and appreciation.

“The mind that is too ready at contempt and reprobation is, I may say, as a clenched fist that can give blows, but is shut up from receiving and holding ought that is precious.”

George Eliot, Felix Holt

“Skepticism has never founded empires, established principals, or changed the world’s heart. The great doers in history have always been people of faith.”

Edwin Hubbel Chapin

“The same principles which at first view lead to skepticism, pursued to a certain point, bring men back to common sense.”

George Berkeley

Looking for an expert?

To connect with one of our knowledgeable team members for a media opportunity, please contact Leslie Panfil via phone or email. We look forward to sharing our expertise!

440.544.2255 | info@theaustin.com

MORE NEWS FROM THE AUSTIN

The Heart of the Matter

March 13, 2023 by Sean Barr, PMP

Winter Construction Safety Guide

March 9, 2023 by Charlie Engel

Two Books and a Podcast that Inspires Service, Leadership, and Purpose.

March 8, 2023 by Mike Pierce
Austin®
Transparency in Coverage Privacy Policy Employee Resources
  • Connect with The Austin Company on LinkedIn
  • Follow The Austin Company on Facebook
  • Follow The Austin Company on Twitter
  • Subscribe to The Austin Company's YouTube Channel
Manage Cookie Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}
Manage Cookie Consent


This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to collect information about how you interact with our website and allow us to remember you. We use this information in order to improve and customize your browsing experience and for analytics and metrics about our visitors both on this website and other media. To find out more about the cookies we use, see our Privacy Policy.

If you decline, your information won’t be tracked when you visit this website. A single cookie will be used in your browser to remember your preference not to be tracked.


We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “ACCEPT”, you consent to the use of all cookies. For more information, please visit our Privacy Policy.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}