How to Restore Workplace Civility

By Deborah O’Connor 

As a society, we are becoming more self-absorbed and self-centered and fail to consider how our behavior affects those around us. It’s not surprising that every survey on rudeness and incivility shows that we are becoming increasingly more rude and indifferent – trends that have found their way into the American office. But they don’t have to stay there. Here are some tips to combat rudeness and incivility in the workplace.

• Stop yelling on your cell phone. Nobody wants to hear you complain and whine in public and the same goes for the workplace. Shut your office door or step outside and give everyone a break.
• Take responsibility for your actions. Stop making excuses for everything and take the high road and admit you made a mistake. Practice self-restraint, politeness, morality, and ethical behavior. Your co-workers will respect you and attitudes will change for the better.
• Indulge in common courtesy. Hold the door for the person behind you, compliment a co-worker on a job well done, let the car turn in front you, or take the time to get to know a co-worker better.
• Volunteer your time. Nothing makes a person more humble or empathetic than helping others. Post a list of volunteer opportunities in the office and encourage coworkers to get involved. Adopt a charity at work. Helping others less fortunate takes your mind off of your problems.
• Be a role model in your office. We all wonder where our children learn rude behavior and bad language. They learn it from you. The same pertains to your workplace. Be the role model in your office by not indulging in gossip, rudeness and unkind behavior. Take the high road by setting a good example for your co-workers.
• Adopt a positive attitude. It’s amazing how much nicer people are when you project a kind and positive attitude. Give compliments, praise co-workers for a job well done, put a smile on your face, and take the time for the little niceties of life.
•  Know your netiquette etiquette. Answer your e-mails in a timely manner, return telephone messages as soon as possible, call when you are going to be late for a meeting, give plenty of notice if you are unable to meet a deadline. This behavior should be the norm, not the exception.
• Slow down. Yes, life is fast-paced and we’re all used to getting everything we want right now, our way, and on our terms. Life doesn’t work that way and we’re all losing sight of our fellow human beings. Take the time to slow down. Help a co-worker with a project, take someone to lunch for doing a great job, praise someone’s accomplishments in a meeting.
• Adopt the Golden Rule. Remember the golden rule? Treat others as you would like to be treated. Just be nicer and kinder to each other. It’s a novel idea, but it just might work.

Please feel free to send questions to Deborah at: www.successfulimage.biz.

She will answer them in her weekly column.

Deborah O’Connor is a social strategist and founder and president of Successful Image LLC with offices in Columbia and Atlanta. She offers training and seminars on image management, workplace etiquette, and social skills necessary to succeed in life professionally and personally. Contact at:  [email protected]        www.successfulimage.biz