Director of the Presidential Foundation of Ronald Reagan: civility can be your advantage during this polarized period, Wh
Vivomity dominates too many aspects of American life, but a place always stands out as a training ground for a respectful speech: the workplace.
According to a recent survey conducted by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, 46% of Americans say they have acquired civility skills at work, more than any other place. These skills include the ability not to agree in a productive and respectful manner, to consider opposite points of view, to listen without interrupting and to collaborate towards shared objectives despite personal differences.
Civility is an essential competence inside and outside the workplace, which must be continuously cultivated at all stages of life. Companies that consciously feed civility build cultures of trust, creativity and resilience – and have put their employees, businesses and the nation as a whole to succeed.
The civic role of the workplace
Today, with fewer Americans participating in civic and community life through institutions, organizations, programs, social clubs, groups, activities and even close friendships, we rely more on the workplace to forge links with people different from us. The workplace is now one of the last places where people from horizons, experiences and various ideologies interact regularly and find themselves working together in search of a common objective.
Thomas Jefferson has argued once democracy depends not only on the vote, but on the daily practice of collaborative problem solving and the respectful disagreements. To his best, the workplace can perfect these same skills, teach people to present ideas and speak publicly, disagree with respect for the common good and to make decisions in collaboration.
In a fractured world, the office has become an unexpected civic incubator. Avant-garde leaders should treat it both as a civic responsibility and a commercial opportunity.
Restabilization analysis for civility
Civility is not only in good health for democracy and our labor relations. It’s good for net profit.
According to a SHRM study, incivility costs American employers for $ 2 billion per day of loss of productivity and absenteeism. When employees feel missing, they disengaged and their productivity suffers. The teams fracture. Stands innovations. And companies suffer.
On the other hand, the workplaces built on confidence and mutual respect work better in all areas. These environments benefit from stronger retention, higher morale and more innovation. It also promotes psychological security, which encourages daring and creative thinking and effective decision -making. In short, civility supports innovation and innovation stimulates success.
How civility is practiced and taught
Civility does not consist in avoiding disagreement. It is a question of being in disagreement and to keep the moments difficult, whether in a working meeting or at the dinner table, productive and significant. Managers can set this tone. The way you manage conflicts, invite dissent and model respect filters throughout your organization.
There are three steps that can pass your leadership and your organization to the next level. First, practice and model civility. Invite the comments of colleagues, listen to their ideas with curiosity and regulate your own reactions, especially under pressure.
Second, design your workspace for this: create a space for a constructive dialogue and comments. Encourage participatory decision -making, which strengthens critical thinking, persuasion and membership.
Third, always reward positive behavior. In order to see repeated civility, you must strengthen it. Recognize employees who collaborate through differences of difference and contribute to a respectful culture. These behaviors can be learned and taught. The workplaces that invest in them are stronger for this.
The point to remember key
At a time of social fragmentation, the workplace is the most coherent place where Americans of all walks meet. Business leaders are responsible for making these environments productive and constructive. Although the workplace does not replace democratic institutions, it can help revive the habits that keep them strong. If we want healthier organizations and a healthier democracy, business leaders must defend civility as the basic value of the company.
The opinions expressed in the Fortune.com comments are only the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Fortune.
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