There’s plenty of room for debate when it comes to the validity of what’s commonly known as the Broken Windows Theory. But when I look at the theory in reverse – call it the Fixed Windows Theory – one thing seems clear: The vibes that come when we see the good in our world can have a powerfully positive affect on our teams and communities.
The Broken Windows Theory originated with a 1982 article by social scientists James Wilson and George Kelling, and it gained widespread recognition nearly 20 years later when Malcolm Gladwell referenced it in The Tipping Point.
The premise is that visible signs of disorder and neglect (like broken windows or graffiti) signal a lack of community care, indicate no one is in control, and lead to more crime. Fix the disorder (the broken windows), the theory goes, and you reduce the crime.
Turns out, broken windows are often more of a symptom than a cause. But perhaps we can agree that visible signs of disrepair – in our neighborhoods, among our teams, and in our lives – create negative vibes that adversely affect our attitudes and behavior. If so, then the reverse is also true. And I’ve seen some supporting evidence for this in recent months.
Go Knicks! Go New York!
In June when the New York Knicks stunned the NBA world by winning their first championship since 1973, fans in the Big Apple rightly celebrated. In the minutes after they beat San Antonio to secure the title four games to one, fans across the city threw open their windows and whooped and hollered at, to, and with each other.
For New Yorkers, this fixed window lifted the community spirit and civic pride. But my friends who live in New York told me something more was going on. The Knicks were part of it but so were things like the city’s role in hosting the World Cup finals (albeit at a stadium in New Jersey) and some picture-perfect, blue-sky early summer weather.
There was a feeling that the things that aren’t good (like potholes) can and will be fixed and that life, while not perfect, had momentum in the right direction. The focus throughout the city on the positive and the renewed sense of communal pride led to a revival of the love affair between New York and New Yorkers.
The result: People were inspired to go outside and be with other people, to smile, celebrate, and enjoy life together, and to project the type of positive attitude that leads to better, more constructive behaviors. (Need proof? Look at this … or this … or this … or this.)
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An Uplift with UpLift
I’ve written several times about my involvement with Colorado UpLift, a nonprofit that offers mentoring and character development for around 5,000 Denver-area students.
Earlier this year the organization purchased property for a new headquarters. This was a big deal because we (I am chairman of the board) now own rather than rent a property that’s far better suited for our work than anything we’ve had in the past.
The property includes buildings and land but also needs some renovations. So while we technically aren’t building, we held a groundbreaking ceremony for the renovations as an opportunity to share what’s going on with our donors and other stakeholders.
Nothing much about the work of the nonprofit has really changed. We have the same leadership team, the same staff, and the same programs (although we’re expanding some and working on new offerings). But the vibe at and after the groundbreaking produced a positive atmosphere that I considered a fixed windows moment.
You can still see and feel the positive momentum, and there’s a renewed sense of pride and optimism about the work of UpLift and the impact it can have on the lives of students. There are problems and challenges, but there’s a rising tide. People are giving and getting involved like never before.
So, here’s the question: In your organization and on your teams, how can you highlight the positives that shape momentum? How can you fix the broken windows? How can you show that you care and that your organization cares about the work you do and the people you serve? How can you use recognition and praise to highlight your fixed windows?
Every team, every organization, and every community has its problems. Our challenge as leaders is to help develop a culture that pulls together to address those problems while advancing our mission. Fixed windows are part of that culture. And a good place to start.
