From Chalk on the Floor to Screens on the Wall: Boosting Workplace Performance with Digital Signage
In the early 1900s, steel magnate Charles Schwab faced a familiar challenge—how to increase productivity on the factory floor. What he did next is still talked about over a century later and holds powerful lessons for today's leaders.
As the story goes—famously retold in Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People—Schwab visited one of his steel mills during a shift change. He asked the day crew how many "heats" of steel they had completed. "Six," they replied. Without saying a word, Schwab took a piece of chalk and scrawled a large "6" on the factory floor.
The next shift came in, saw the number, and asked what it meant. When they heard it was the previous shift's output, they were determined to beat it. That night, they completed 7 heats. They erased the 6 and proudly chalked in a 7. The following day, the original crew returned, saw the 7, and upped their game to 10. No speeches. No memos. Just simple, visible motivation.
What does this have to do with your workplace today?
In today's fast-paced, digital-first environment, we don't need to rely on chalk and concrete floors—but the principle is the same: real-time, visible communication drives performance.
That's where digital signage comes in.
Digital Signage Is the New Chalk
Digital signage allows you to instantly share real-time data, goals, and achievements in a visually compelling way. Imagine walking into your warehouse, office, or production floor and seeing:
- Current output stats
- Shift goals
- Safety records
- Weather alerts
- Upcoming birthdays
- Team shout-outs
When you make progress visible, you make improvement inevitable.
Why It Works
- It taps into healthy competition. Just like the steelworkers, teams naturally want to outperform what's visible.
- It creates transparency. Everyone can see what success looks like.
- It boosts morale. Recognition and progress tracking show that every contribution matters.
- It saves time. No need to send 10 emails or schedule another meeting—just update the screen.
Make It Happen with SignPresenter
At SignPresenter, we've taken that century-old insight and given it a modern upgrade. With a simple setup—often using just a Fire TV Stick—you can push updated stats, announcements, and visuals to any screen across your facility.
Conclusion
Charles Schwab didn't need fancy software—just a visible number and a little human psychology. Today, we have tools that can deliver that same impact—instantly, beautifully, and everywhere. Don't underestimate what a screen on the wall can do for your team.