There’s something telling when 400 professionals are asked if they’ve been part of a workplace transition that was handled correctly — and only a couple hands are raised.

But that was the case at a Calgary conference last week focusing on stress in the workplace. Speaking to the audience of mental health workers, business people, and politicians at the Telus Convention Centre, Brian Olson had a simple message: “There is no substitute for good leadership.”

The former Calgary oilpatch executive, who now consults with companies working through restructuring plans, mergers, takeovers and startups, said too many companies lack leadership.

Many leaders are tuned into the bottom line, or more concerned with their own corporate welfare than the workers below them, he said. When times are difficult — for example, the company isn’t doing well and takeover rumours are rife — the boss can’t run and hide, he says.

But that is often the case, leading to a chain of disastrous results, says Olson, president of Outwest Enterprises. Workers are embarrassed by the company, the best people quit, cynicism runs rampant and productivity drops.

At the same time, adds Olson, all that negativity spills out into the community and to the customer.

Being up front with people is so simple, he says. Even if workers don’t like what they hear, at least they can make decisions.

He cites a plan 15 years ago to relocate 400 Nova Corp. workers from Calgary to Edmonton as a textbook case on dealing properly with a difficult situation. “The staff were wild, they didn’t want this,” recalls Olson, who held several senior jobs at Nova.

But the leadership (Robin Abercrombie, the senior VP) met face-to-face, with every employee, says Olson. “They knew every worker, their families, the names of all the people moving.“

Robin valued the people and showed a genuine commitment to the business. He was amazing, and people followed him.”

Ninety-per-cent of the Nova employees relocated, said Olson, noting a typical relocation rate is closer to 40 per cent.

Workers are already dealing with personal stress: high divorce rates, debt loads, elder and childcare, and dual careers in the family. Unnecessary work stress compounds the problem, says Olson, and creates an unproductive workforce.

Innovation, even if you’re making paper clips, is critical, he says. “And employees are the source of innovation.”