Balancing Stoicism and Emotion in Process Controls
Brian Wood
Stop trying to get people to follow process documents. I'll teach you how to get them to WANT to follow the documented process—Grounded in 20+ Years of Manufacturing and Process Expertise
Introduction
How do you inspire a team to embrace change when half of them believe it will fail?
Navigating such high-stakes environments requires a delicate balance: the calm rationality of Stoicism and the motivational power of emotional engagement.
Stoicism offers tools for resilience and focus, helping engineers stay composed under pressure. Meanwhile, constructive emotional engagement fosters pride, collaboration, and a sense of shared purpose among teams.
This article explores how manufacturing professionals can harmonize these philosophies to strengthen process controls, instill pride in the workforce, and achieve long-term success.
Stoicism and Its Role in Manufacturing
Stoicism, originating in ancient Greece, emphasizes rational thought, acceptance of the uncontrollable, and alignment with virtue. Its core tenets include:
For manufacturing engineers, these principles are invaluable. Stoicism helps maintain focus during process disruptions, prevents overreactions to setbacks, and fosters a disciplined approach to problem-solving.
Morning Realignment: A Practical Example
One approach I’ve used to stay grounded is starting each workday with a quick mindset tune-up. I’ll review my plan for the day, focus on what I can control, and recognize what I need to avoid getting distracted by, because it's beyond my influence. It’s not a magic cure-all, but it helps me maintain calm when problems arise.
I remember one specific project where this mindset proved essential. Our team was tasked with replacing all toolboxes on the shop floor with centralized tool boards to make tools visible and accessible. A solid idea, but the vehemence of the resistance cannot be overstated!
Most of the 30–40 assemblers were loudly opposed. Some were certain we’d fail spectacularly, a few even openly predicted that we’d soon be looking for new jobs.
Listening to their concerns was an important part of the job, but I couldn’t let it derail the project. Staying calm, keeping my focus, and addressing concerns one by one helped move us forward despite the resistance.
The Importance of Emotion: Instilling Pride in Work
Emotion is part of being human. It is an unavoidable aspect of the manufacturing floor. And that’s a good thing when channeled effectively. Emotion is essential for pride, ownership, and motivation. It turns “just another day on the job” into something meaningful and rewarding.
Building Pride Through Emotional Engagement
Pride in one’s work is contagious. It drives people to perform their best and creates a sense of shared accomplishment. As manufacturing engineers, we’re in a unique position to nurture that pride. Simple actions can have a big impact, such as:
Leading up to the tool board transition, in recognition of the fears many had, my colleague and I spent time explaining how this change would reduce frustration, save time, and make their lives better, not worse. It wasn’t just about tools; it was about creating a better environment.
The day before the transformation, we started seeing a shift. Some of the assemblers who understood the benefits became eager to help. Their pride in contributing was ovbvious. From how they spoke to coworkers to how they jumped in to assist, you could tell they were excited to be part of something bigger.
Balancing Stoicism and Emotion
Finding the Sweet Spot
Balancing Stoicism and emotion means staying composed without losing touch with the human element. Engineers who get this balance right can:
This balance was essential as we moved forward with the tool board transition.
Stoic principles kept us grounded when doubts and criticisms came pouring in, but emotional engagement helped build trust and camaraderie. Sharing the rationale behind the change and celebrating the efforts of those who got on board early played a big role in turning skeptics into supporters.
It was days in preparing, so implementation could take place at hyper speed.
Completing the Transition
On the day of the transformation, it all came together. Within minutes, we replaced 30–40 packed toolboxes with 10 strategically placed tool boards. It wasn’t just about the change itself; it was the teamwork that made it happen.
The first shift arrived the next morning and was relieved that they were the first, that nobody could steal their tools yet. As shifts rotated and tools were consistently available, attitudes shifted.
Within days, the pride in those boards was tangible. Assemblers who once resisted the change began taking ownership, proudly maintaining their boards and even showing them off.
A visit from upper management didn’t hurt either. Their positive comments on how the boards looked—and their appreciation for how well the team adapted—only reinforced the growing pride.
Stoicism gave us the resolve to push forward, but it was emotional engagement that made the change meaningful. Together, they created a stronger, more cohesive workforce.
Conclusion
Balancing Stoicism and emotion isn’t just a nice idea; it’s an essential skill for manufacturing engineers. Stoicism offers focus, resilience, and rationality in tackling the challenges of process controls. Emotion, when constructively channeled, fosters pride, motivation, and collaboration.
By mastering this balance, you can lead meaningful change, overcome challenges, and create a thriving workplace.
Next Week:
As we move into the final month of 2024, I’ll take on a timeless debate: Can our humanity survive these new technological advancements?
They always say, “This time is different.”
Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard some of that same rhetoric pointed at AI. So, is it different this time? Will we survive? Let’s explore together. Stay tuned!