Transforming Disaster into Opportunity and Innovation

Recently, I learned about the devastating fire that destroyed a significant portion of Thomas Edison’s operations and could have ended the career of the man known as “The Wizard of Menlo Park.”

In 1914, a massive chemical explosion and fire raged through the prolific inventor's lab in West Orange, N.J. Flames shot 100 feet in the sky, burning five city blocks and destroying most of his facilities.

Rather than complain, wallow in loss, or give up (at 67 years old, he certainly could have retired), the indefatigable inventor and business leader calmly declared on the night of the fire, "I'll start all over again tomorrow." And he did. The day after the fire, a New York Times headline proclaimed, “All of 7,000 employees to report today and rebuilding to begin.” Three weeks later, part of the plant was already up and running, and Edison and his organization continued their groundbreaking work for many years to come.

More than a century later, Edison’s response still provides timely lessons in leadership, including the power of fortitude, purpose and optimism.

When I talk about the traits of good leadership, I always highlight fortitude. During a moment of crisis, individuals want to see their leaders buckling down, staying firm and focused – being more of a shock absorber than a shock amplifier, having the strength and courage to tackle any challenge. Team members will sense any uncertainty emanating from their leaders.

Edison not only had the fortitude and resilience to rebuild after the fire, he also showed amazing clarity of purpose, another trait of successful leaders.?During a crisis or challenge, people seek clarity and guidance. Edison didn’t waste even a day in making it clear that he would rebuild the business. His clear and compelling vision of the future not only drove himself forward, it also inspired his employees and showed them the way forward. Failure should never be the end of the story. If you keep your goals in sight and persevere, you can overcome your setbacks and eventually reach your goals.

Finally, I admire Edison’s optimism. Of course, leaders must be realistic, analyze and assess difficult situations objectively, and communicate honestly about the magnitude of the challenge being confronted. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for optimism, even during the most difficult times. There is growing evidence that optimism is correlated with better outcomes for individuals and teams.?In terms of organizational effectiveness, researchers at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln found that team optimism can be an important predictor of team outcomes. A study reported in The Harvard Business Review found that when it comes to money, optimists are more likely to make smart moves and reap the benefits; they are less stressed about finances and are more likely to be promoted. Studies also suggest that optimistic people tend to live longer and have better physical and mental health than pessimistic people.

Throughout the course of our lives and careers, it is impossible to predict how or when we will be tested and called upon to lead.?But you can be sure those moments of truth will come, as the global pandemic painfully reminded us all. When that unexpected setback or crisis strikes you or a team that you lead, how will you react?

With the vision, drive and fortitude to move forward, it’s possible to turn obstacles into opportunities and transform disaster into invention.

That’s the positive attitude that Edison had – even as he watched his buildings go up in flames.

According to CNN, “In true Edison fashion, disaster led directly to innovation: The man with 1,093 different patents to his name – from a viable lightbulb to the phonograph to the motion picture camera – noticed firefighters had trouble seeing in the smoky darkness, and two days later had invented a powerful battery-powered searchlight.”

That’s truly a case of seeing a spark of innovation in the midst of the flames of destruction.