I recently attended a one-day seminar on how to reinforce desired behavior by accentuating the positive. In the seminar, we were taught how to avoid caviling. I didn't know what "caviling" meant. So during our first break I asked around and found out it's a fancy word for nit-picking. I had no idea I'd been caviling for all these years.

Trying a More Positive Training Approach

So now I guess I should quit all this caviling and start figuring out how to "positively reinforce" the safe behavior and overlook the negative. The next time I see a worker not wearing his hard hat, I will not blurt out "where the #$%#*& is your hard hat!" Instead, I'll say this: "John, thank you oh so very much for wearing your boots. I notice you regularly come to work with the proper boots on. It is very commendable that you care about the health and safety of your toes. Now where the #$%#*& is your hard hat?"

No, no, I can't do that. What am I thinking? I was taught during the seminar that even when I notice an unsafe practice I should try to encourage change in a positive manner.

Okay, so let's try this again: "John, thank you oh so very much for wearing your boots. I notice you regularly come to work with the proper boots on. It is very commendable that you care about the health and safety of your lower phalanges. Did you know it is also important to care about your head?"

Of course John, the carpenter, will respond with a positive remark such as, "No, I was unaware that others were concerned about their cranium. I can see by your remark that you wish I would show more care for the upper division of my body, which contains my brain. With much appreciation, I shall take your remark under consideration. I am confident that it will have a positive effect on my future behavior."

What I'm Really Going To Do

Actually, I don't think I can be a good trainer if I only use positive reinforcement. There must be some room for the caviling. I think the instructor of this high-powered seminar didn't have the entire picture. You see, if I don't yell at the mechanics and warn them that they better put their goggles on, they won't listen. Sure, some fancy instructor (who has spent his or her educated life in the classroom) will tell me I should only reinforce positive behavior - but they don't know the pipefitters I work with.

Conclusion

Yes, I'll concentrate a bit more on saying "good; safe job; you were wonderful," etc., etc. But I don't think I'll stop yelling at workers when I see them violating a safety procedure. Or, let's put it this way. When I do yell at them, I'll try to do it a way that gives them "positive reinforcement towards the behavior, which is of a safer import" - whatever that means.

Or, how about this: From now on, I'll try to keep my caviling to a minimum.

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