Chicago has already gotten hit with around eight snowstorms this year.  It has also been quite cold, and next to every building you walk past downtown, there is a yellow “Caution: Falling Ice” sign.

I understand the purpose of most signs like this.  After all, when you’re in a restaurant and they’ve just mopped the floor, it makes sense for them to warn you to watch your step so that you don’t slip on the water.  But what exactly am I supposed to do with this falling ice announcement?  I can’t stop the ice from falling off the building, and I have no choice but to walk down the sidewalk.  The notion of not being able to protect myself from imminent danger makes me nervous and irritable.

When you’re at work, don’t be like Chicken Little, who wailed to everyone who would listen that the sky was falling, or the sign that cautioned about falling ice.  If you’re going to report a worrisome situation, make sure that you come across as a problem-solver rather than a “Debbie Downer.”  For example, you might tell your boss that you think morale among your team is slipping, and then immediately suggest that you organize an evening out to show your appreciation for the hard work they’re doing.  You will quickly be seen as someone who identifies needs and solutions rather than a chronic complainer or doomsayer.