JS Tip 517: Building a Civil Culture

Last week, we talked about toxic criticism.

This week, we’ll talk about an antidote: civility.

Dr. Christine Porath, a professor at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, has found that civility pays: 

In a 2015 study, I was part of a team that found that people who perceived a colleague as civil—defined as treating someone respectfully, with dignity, politeness or pleasantry—would be more likely to seek that person out for work advice and were twice as likely to see that person as a leader.

Those seen as civil performed thirteen percent better than those who weren’t. By being civil, leaders create a positive cycle in their organization, allowing everyone to focus more on their work. 

In another study, I surveyed more than 20,000 employees across industries. Those who felt their leader “demonstrated respect” reported ninety-two percent greater focus and prioritization, fifty-six percent better health and well-being, and fifty-five percent more engagement. 

(From “Civility at Work Helps Everyone Get Ahead” in The Wall Street Journal on the internet.)

Wow. Impressive.

Next week, we’ll talk about specifics. We’ll talk about howto build a civil culture.

We love this stuff.