Civility's Empowering Impact
The Importance of Civility: Defining Incivility and Its Effects
As we go through our daily lives, we often don’t stop to think about the impact our actions have on others. However, it’s important to recognize that every day, we are answering the simple question: “Who do you want to be?” Our actions and behaviors towards others define the answer to this question, and they have a significant impact on our professional success.
According to my research, one of the most critical factors that determine our professional success is how we show up and treat people. Incivility is a term that refers to disrespectful or rude behavior towards others. It encompasses a range of actions, from teasing and belittling someone to texting during meetings. What may be considered uncivil to one person may not be the same for another, but the consequences are always the same. Incivility has negative impacts on people’s emotions, motivation, and performance.
In my experience, witnessing the effects of incivility on others hits close to home. I remember vividly walking into my father’s hospital room and seeing him strapped to a bed with electrodes. His work-related stress caused by an uncivil boss had put him in that situation. At that time, I believed that my father was an outlier. Still, a few years later, I witnessed and experienced a lot of incivility in my first job out of college. Coworkers would insult me, belittle my work, and make me feel insignificant. Eventually, I decided to quit and go back to grad school to study the effects of incivility.
What I found through my research was eye-opening. We sent out a survey to business school alumni and found that incivility made people less motivated, with 66 percent of people cutting back on work efforts, 80 percent losing time worrying about what happened, and 12 percent even leaving their job. Furthermore, incivility has an adverse effect on performance, affecting not only those who experience it but also those who witness it.
Studies have shown that incivility is contagious, and we can become carriers of it just by being around it. This bug is not confined to the workplace; we can catch it anywhere, be it online, in schools, or in our communities. Reading or seeing rude words can even affect our attention and decision-making abilities.
The reasons behind incivility’s persistence are two-fold: stress and concerns about appearing weak or “less leader-like.” However, research has shown that civility pays off. Civility is defined as doing small things like smiling and acknowledging others, actively listening when someone is speaking to you, and asking questions humbly. Being truly civil means having strong opinions, giving negative feedback with respect, and challenging directly, known as “radical candor.”
Civility pays off because it earns us the respect of others. People see us as warm and competent, which can boost our performance and lead us to be viewed as leaders. Respect is the number one characteristic that employees want from their leaders, and it has been shown to improve employee health, focus, engagement, and loyalty.
In conclusion, small acts of civility can make a significant difference. Let’s start spreading civility and putting an end to the incivility bug. Remember, in every interaction, think about who you want to be.
The Cost of Incivility: Eye-Opening Results from a Business School Alumni Study
Have you ever experienced incivility at work? Maybe a rude or disrespectful comment from a boss or coworker? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, a study conducted by business school alumni found that incivility in the workplace is all too common - and it’s costing companies millions of dollars each year.
The study, conducted by researchers who were curious about the effects of incivility on performance and the bottom line, sent a survey to business school alumni working in various organizations. The survey asked respondents to write about a specific experience where they were treated rudely or disrespectfully and to answer questions about how they reacted.
What they found was eye-opening. The study revealed that incivility made people less motivated, with 66 percent cutting back on work efforts and 80 percent losing time worrying about the incident. Shockingly, 12 percent even left their job as a result of the incivility.
These findings prompted organizations, such as Cisco, to take notice. After reading about the numbers, Cisco estimated that incivility was costing them $12 million a year. These results also debunk the notion that incivility only affects the person who is targeted. Witnessing incivility can also lead to decreased performance, as demonstrated in studies where participants who witnessed incivility had decreased performance, and they made significantly more errors.
The study’s results are clear: incivility has a significant cost, and it’s not just monetary. It affects people’s emotions, motivation, and performance, even when they’re not the ones experiencing it firsthand. It’s also contagious and can spread like a virus, affecting people’s attention and their treatment of others.
So, what can we do to combat incivility in the workplace? The good news is that small things can make a big difference. Simple acts of kindness like thanking people, sharing credit, and listening attentively can go a long way. And being civil doesn’t just mean avoiding being a jerk - it means actively lifting others up and treating them with respect and kindness.
Ultimately, incivility isn’t just bad for business - it’s bad for people. By fostering a civil and respectful work environment, we can increase productivity, creativity, and happiness while creating a healthier workplace for everyone.
Witnesses of Incivility: How it Affects Performance and Attention
Have you ever witnessed someone being rude or disrespectful towards another person? Did you notice any impact on your own performance or attention span? Well, according to my research, witnesses of incivility can also suffer significant consequences.
In a study conducted with five participants, we asked them to witness an experimenter act rudely to someone who arrived late. The experimenter made insulting comments, and the witnesses’ performance decreased significantly. This effect was also observed in a small group where a peer insulted a group member.
The results were surprising because it showed that incivility is contagious, and we become carriers of it just by being around it. This happens not only if we experience incivility or we witness it but can also happen if we just see or read rude words.
To test this theory, we gave people combinations of words to use to make a sentence. Half the participants received a list of 15 words used to trigger rudeness, while the other half received a list of words with none of these rude triggers. We found that people who got the rude words were five times more likely to miss information right in front of them on the computer screen. Furthermore, those who read the rude words took longer to make decisions, to record their decisions, and they made significantly more errors.
This can be especially concerning when it comes to life-and-death situations. A physician once told me about a doctor that was never respectful, especially to junior staff and nurses. One day, this doctor shouted at a medical team, and right after the interaction, the team gave the wrong dosage of medication to their patient. The patient died because of this simple mistake.
Researchers in Israel have also shown that medical teams exposed to rudeness perform worse not only in all their diagnostics but in all the procedures they did. This was mainly because the teams exposed to rudeness didn’t share information as readily and they stopped seeking help from their teammates.
It’s important to remember that incivility doesn’t just affect the person on the receiving end. It can have a ripple effect and negatively impact those who witness it. So, the next time you witness incivility, remember that your performance and attention span may be affected too.
How Even Reading Rude Words Can Affect Decision-Making
Did you know that even reading rude words can affect our decision-making and attention? That’s what I discovered during my research on incivility. In one of our experiments, we gave participants combinations of words to use to make a sentence, but half of them received a list with rude triggers like “impolitely,” “interrupt,” “obnoxious,” and “bother,” while the other half received a list of words without any rude triggers. The results were surprising: those who got the rude words were five times more likely to miss information right in front of them on the computer screen.
As we continued our research, we found that those who read rude words took longer to make decisions, made significantly more errors, and recorded their decisions slower than those who didn’t read rude words. This can be a big problem, especially in high-stakes situations, such as life-and-death decisions made by physicians.
Our findings suggest that rudeness and incivility can affect not only the person who experiences or witnesses it, but also those who simply read or hear it. It can even affect our ability to make decisions, and ultimately, impact our performance. This is a significant issue, and it’s important to be aware of it and take steps to prevent it.
Understanding the Reasons Behind the Persistence of Incivility
Incivility can be a persistent issue in many workplaces, even when it is acknowledged as a problem. Understanding the reasons why it persists is important if we want to create a more respectful and productive work environment.
One reason why incivility persists is due to the stress that people experience in their jobs. When people feel stressed, they are more likely to engage in uncivil behavior towards others. This can be particularly true when there are high stakes or tight deadlines involved.
Another reason why incivility persists is due to concerns about appearing weak. People may engage in uncivil behavior towards others as a way of demonstrating their strength or power. They may also worry that if they do not engage in such behavior, they will be perceived as weak or ineffective.
It is important to recognize these underlying causes of incivility in order to address the problem effectively. Employers can take steps to reduce workplace stress and create a culture that values respect and civility. By doing so, they can create a work environment where people feel supported and enabled to behave in a more positive and productive manner.
Civility Pays: The Importance of Respect in Leadership
Respectful behavior is essential in any leadership role. It creates a healthy work environment, encourages productivity, and promotes cooperation among team members. Leaders who practice civility set an example for others to follow and foster a culture of mutual respect and understanding.
In contrast, incivility from leaders can have a profound impact on the workplace. It creates a toxic atmosphere that leads to stress, low morale, and decreased productivity. Employees who are subjected to rude behavior from their superiors are more likely to disengage from their work, which can ultimately result in decreased job satisfaction and higher turnover rates.
However, leaders who exhibit civility are more likely to inspire their team members and improve their job satisfaction. They are seen as approachable and trustworthy, which encourages open communication and strengthens relationships within the workplace. By treating their employees with respect and valuing their contributions, leaders can create a more positive work environment and foster a sense of loyalty among team members.
It’s worth noting that the benefits of civility extend beyond the workplace. Leaders who prioritize respect in their personal lives are more likely to have stronger relationships and better overall well-being. By prioritizing civility and respect in all areas of their lives, leaders can set an example for others and create a ripple effect of positive behavior.
In conclusion, civility is a crucial element of effective leadership. Leaders who prioritize respectful behavior create a positive work environment that encourages productivity, promotes cooperation, and inspires their team members. On the other hand, leaders who exhibit incivility create a toxic work environment that ultimately harms their team members and undermines their own leadership abilities.
Small Acts of Civility Can Make a Big Difference
While incivility can have significant negative impacts, the good news is that small acts of civility can also have a big positive impact. Simply saying “thank you” or “please” can go a long way in creating a positive environment. When people feel respected and valued, they are more likely to be engaged, productive, and committed to their work.
In addition, it’s important to be mindful of our own behavior and how it can affect others. Taking a moment to pause and reflect on how we communicate with others can help us avoid inadvertently causing harm. By practicing empathy and kindness in our daily interactions, we can create a culture of civility that benefits everyone.
It’s also worth noting that small acts of civility can have a ripple effect. When one person acts with kindness, it can inspire others to do the same. This can create a positive feedback loop that leads to a more respectful and collaborative workplace.
So, even if it may seem like a small gesture, taking the time to be civil and respectful can have a big impact on the people around us. Let’s all strive to create a culture of civility in our workplaces and communities.
Doug Conant’s Example: Tough-Minded on Standards, Tenderhearted with People
In the world of business, it’s not uncommon for leaders to be seen as tough, uncompromising figures who demand excellence from their employees at all times. However, former Campbell Soup Company CEO Doug Conant took a different approach to leadership, one that emphasized both high standards and empathy for his employees.
Conant’s approach to leadership was based on a simple yet powerful idea: that leaders could hold themselves and their teams to high standards while also treating people with compassion and respect. This approach, which Conant referred to as being “tough-minded on standards, tenderhearted with people,” proved to be highly effective at Campbell Soup and helped to transform the company’s culture.
By focusing on both high standards and empathy, Conant was able to create a workplace culture where employees felt valued and respected, and where they were able to do their best work. This approach also helped to foster a sense of accountability among employees, as they knew that their work was important and that they were expected to perform at a high level.
Conant’s leadership style is a powerful example of how small acts of civility, such as showing empathy and respect for others, can have a big impact on organizational culture and performance. By being tough on standards but tenderhearted with people, Conant was able to create a workplace that was both productive and fulfilling for his employees.
Conclusion
In conclusion, incivility can have far-reaching negative effects on individuals, teams, and organizations. It can decrease job satisfaction, impair productivity, and increase turnover rates. Moreover, even witnessing incivility can have a detrimental impact on one’s performance and attention.
Fortunately, small acts of civility can make a big difference and contribute to creating a more positive work environment. It is important for leaders to model respectful behavior and prioritize civility in their interactions with others. By doing so, they can set the tone for their teams and promote a culture of respect and positivity.
Ultimately, promoting civility is not only beneficial for the well-being of individuals but also for the success of organizations. By valuing and prioritizing civility, organizations can foster a more productive and engaged workforce, leading to improved outcomes and a better bottom line.
