Keeping Cool at Work When the Temperature Rises

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Globally, summertime is often when people travel on vacation to find cooler weather and enjoy outdoor activities. Interestingly, while one part of the world is experiencing cooler weather, other parts may be experiencing severe heat. Either way, extreme temperatures, whether cold or hot, are unhealthy for human consumption. Extreme heat causes all kinds of health-related issues (heat stroke, exhaustion, abnormal thinking or behavior, etc.).

People’s impatience and frustration levels seem to increase as the temperature rises to dangerous levels. Even while in an air-conditioned office or car, your body still senses the discomfort, and people around you may express subtle aggression or talk about the harsh weather outside. It is not a surprise that when the heat goes up, so do incidents of micro or virtual aggression, such as ranting on social media, fights on sports fields, and other forms of violence, even murder. People naturally exhibit behaviors that are consistent with their physical environments. If an environment is harmonious, you can feel the serenity in the air, and you are more likely to interact with others in harmonious ways. Conversely, when the environment is harsh, unfriendly, suspicious, biased, or intense, negative interactions are more likely. Therefore, it would be a disservice for anyone to ignore the impact of harsh internal or external environments.

In a state like Arizona, where temperatures reach a high of 120 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer, car radiators regularly overheat, tires blow out on the freeways, and flights are restricted from taking off or landing due to heat-related risks at the Sky Harbor International Airport. Road rage escalates during the summer; and, unfortunately, all too many people die from excessive heat. Last year alone, about 645 heat-related deaths were reported in Maricopa County, Arizona. The damage extreme temperatures cause is undeniable, and it is known to be a global phenomenon. That is why people prefer to travel to places that are much cooler for relief until the weather starts to cooperate again. For those who decide to stay behind during extreme weather, it would be advisable to know how to manage excessive heat and at the same time be pleasant to people, especially in the workplace where the heat can contribute to workplace incivility.

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Acknowledge the issue

For construction workers or other individuals who work outdoors, it is imperative for leadership to acknowledge and forewarn their team members about the seriousness of such severe weather and effectively communicate how the management team will keep them safe by providing adequate water and electrolytes for hydration. Acknowledging the real threat (extreme heat conditions) to your crew members signals a sense of care. Also, ensuring that workers take multiple water and cooling-off breaks is critical. Simply put, don’t make extreme hot weather issues your associates’ fault. Rather, make it everybody’s concern by acting on your promise to provide necessary products and opportunities for cooling.

Deliver on your promise

Show them that you care by delivering on your promise. Nothing demoralizes a team like a failed promise. If you know you can’t deliver on your promise, don’t make such a promise, because it kills team morale and dampens trust. Team members are ready to go the extra mile if they know that you will look out for them. Don’t assume that your team members are not watching your every move—they are. An effective leader delivers on promises at all costs. If, for whatever reason, you find you are unable to deliver on your promise, let them know in a timely manner, ask for their suggestions on alternative ways to keep them safe, and be ready to consider their suggestions.

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Involve your team in decisions that affect them

There is no expert who knows more than the people who do the work daily. Never underestimate the intelligence of your associates, because they often know more than you think they know. With a safe work environment, your associates will deliver more than you projected. All it takes is an environment of trust, honesty, openness, and delivered promises for workers to exceed your expectations. It is true that extrinsic motivation such as pay raises can motivate workers to an extent. However, even the incentive of a pay raise is short-lived when the work environment is impersonal, distrustful, disrespectful, and lacks collaboration.

A healthy society is a reflection of healthy citizens. The same is applicable in the workplace. That is why it is important to know how to manage your work environment for the greater good of your associates and their family members. If you start with your team members in mind, they will return the favor through high performance and work longevity.

In summary, when high temperatures add stress to the workplace, it is your duty as a leader to acknowledge the concern, commit to addressing the issue, and then deliver on your promise, while making sure that your team members are part of the decision-making process. When you put your team members first in your decision-making, they will usually in return make what concerns you their priority at work and in their lives.