Beware the pitfall of casual contempt

   Casual contempt can best be exemplified in phrases like, “anyone can weld”, or, “there’s really nothing to it”. This is an all too often uttered phrase that is used by managers who have precious little understanding of the activity they presume to manage. I will point out here that no one who had any meaningful degree of welding experience would make a statement like that. Those who had spent time under a welding hood would have more appreciation and respect for the discipline and skill required to achieve a high level of craftsmanship.

   To further illustrate this point, I will use my golf analogy. I am sure that most persons reading this has probably watched golf on TV at some point in their life. It doesn’t look too difficult now, did it. Some old man in funny looking pants makes a nice, smooth easy swing and that ball travels for what looks like a mile and a half, straight as an arrow and lands right in the middle of the fairway. How hard could that be? Have you ever then, after watching golf on TV ever actually gone out and tried it? After a couple attempts at a drive, you start getting the idea that there may actually be something to it. Maybe that old man had practiced that swing before. After trying golf and becoming acutely aware of the skill involved, you start to develop a fair amount of respect for those who do play the sport of golf well.

   Welding has very much of the same dynamic involved. To the untrained observer, it doesn’t look too hard at all. Point the rod into the gap, touch the steel and some magic happens and, voila; finished product. If you are the sort of manager who believes there is really nothing to welding, particularly at a high level of skill, quality and consistency, I would suggest you go try. Try to make a uniform weld. Try to make that same weld around an obstruction or out of position. You may well have a whole renewed sense of respect and appreciation for the skill involved and for the men and women who possess said skill and ability. It has been said that the master has failed more times than the beginner has tried. The level of skill required to weld at a high level had to be cultivated through commitment over a long period of time. It used to be, in many cultures around the world that accomplished craftsmen were held in the same level of esteem as doctors, lawyers and teachers. They should be. Sad that that has been lost to the diminished expectations of an off-the-rack culture.

   I will also suggest and address that this casual contempt mindset is also a bit of a fraud by managers who have not earned their position of authority over an activity of which they have very little knowledge. After all, it stands to reason that if anyone can weld, anyone can manage welding operations. Please be a little suspicious of anyone who utters this claim that anyone can weld. If anyone can weld, why do so many companies have such a hard time finding qualified welders?