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Civility in the Workplace

Civility creates a pleasant working environment and a stable and productive organization. A civil and
respectful workplace is related to greater job satisfaction, feelings of fairness, and an overall positive
environment. Civility is not just the absence of rudeness; it is the presence of warmth, respect,
kindness, and appreciation. Incivility robs people of their potential, even if they are working around
it. Individuals who feel respected are healthier, more focused, and more engaged.

Sometime back, one of my closest friends worked in a small company with uncivil leaders. The
management had huge problems. They had their favorite employees. The working environment was
filled with jealousy, and life was hell. He tried to achieve a resolution, but they would not allow it to
happen. He felt burnout and hurt. Eventually, he had to quit the job.

One important point I obtained from the video is that small uncivil actions can lead to much bigger
problems like aggression and violence (TED, time 02:44). Incivility makes people less motivated.
Individuals who experience or witness incivility show reduced performance, decreased job
satisfaction, and are likelier to quit.

Another crucial point is that a significant reason that leads to executive failure is insensitive,
abrasive, and bullying behavior. Most uncivil leaders sabotage their success. When uncivil leaders
are in a situation of weakness or in need of something, no one would have their backs.

Additionally, I learned that civility pays. According to Porath, individuals viewed as civil are twice as
likely to be viewed as leaders and perform significantly better. If a person is civil, they will be seen as
important, intelligent, warm, and competent.

I can create a civil workplace by establishing a respectful workplace policy. Implementing a written,
respectful workplace policy will codify my commitment to building a positive organizational culture.
The policy should set clear expectations for how employees treat each other and emphasize that
everyone will be held accountable for their behavior. Another approach is training on what is and is
not acceptable. While the training should raise awareness of what constitutes incivility and
disrespect, the focus should be on positive behaviors and raising awareness of the benefits of civil
actions and respectful communication.

Conclusion

In conclusion, civility creates a pleasant working environment as well as a stable and productive
organization. Civility is not just the absence of rudeness, it is the presence of warmth, respect,
kindness, and appreciation. Important points I obtained from the video include small uncivil actions
can lead to bigger problems and the major reason that leads to executive failure is insensitive and
bullying behavior. I also learned that that civility pays. The ways I can use to create a civil workplace
are establishing a respectful workplace policy and training employees on what is and is not
acceptable.
Work Cited

TED. Why being respectful to your coworkers is good for business. Christine
Porath/TEDxUniversityofNevada. 2019. Retrieved from:
https://www.ted.com/talks/christine_porath_why_being_respectful_to_your_coworkers_is_good_f
or_business/transcript?language=en