With the President and other public figures calling for more civil discourse, it's a good time to reflect on the state of civility in corporate life and how our communication style can support, or erode, the quality of life at work.
Why is a civil workplace so important? Well, research has shown that workplace incivility isn't just bad for morale, it's bad for your company's bottom line. Employees who are subjected to abusive behavior — as well as employees who witness abuse — are less focused, motivated and productive.
While extreme forms of incivility, such as harassment, bullying and physical confrontation, are easily identified and generally addressed by corporate policies, there are less blatant forms of incivility that can pervade an organization. These offenses, while less dramatic, can still take a toll on employee morale, engagement and retention.
Is your organization harboring bad behavior? See if any of the following characters sound familiar:
- The Screamer: Her motto is "Pump up the volume!" She screams to get her point across on issues large and small. Her frequent tirades leave staff members dispirited and unsettled, with some even reduced to tears.
- The Four-Letter Fanatic: His speech is peppered with f-bombs and other words your mother told you never to say. And it's not because he's angry. His expletive-laced commentary could be about his vacation in Provence or his two-year-old daughter's birthday party.
- The Put-Down Artist: If there's a way to insult you, she'll find it. And if you take exception to her disparaging remarks, she'll play it off as a joke and declare that you have no sense of humor.
- The Me, Myself and I: He constantly interrupts his colleagues and is an expert at hijacking conversations. He's obsessed with holding forth, even when it's evident he knows little about the subject at hand.
- The General: He doesn't give direction; he gives orders. "Please" and "thank you" are not part of this man's vocabulary. He doesn't have time for trivial pleasantries. After all, he has a business to run!
- The Naysayer: She loves nothing better than a good argument. In fact, she seems to thrive on being combative and won't rest until she's had the last word.
Sadly, some companies allow these behaviors to continue because the person instigating them is a senior leader or possesses skills highly valued by the organization. In the end, however, these employers pay a high price for tolerating such actions, through higher absenteeism, increased turnover and an exodus of talent.
So what can we do to promote a more civil workplace? Clearly, management and HR must play a leading role in promoting, teaching and rewarding positive behaviors, as well as addressing undesirable behaviors.
At the same time, we as individuals can do our part by being mindful of what we say and how we say it. With more discourse, less discord and a big helping of old-fashioned good manners, we can foster a business environment in which everyone can thrive — a workplace that's respectful, positive and professional.