I love my neighbour. He used to be a fashion buyer and is in the midst of a career change. He’s a green thumb and studying to be an agricultural scientist.
Thanks to him there are free herbs for all – he grows them on the nature strip with a sign that says ‘Help yourself’.
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.
…along with coriander, Thai basil, mint, chili and strawberries at the moment.
See why I love him?
I was put off last week. I was outside when a woman walked by with her dog. Like most people she stopped to have a look at the herbs.
And then she allowed her dog to his business on them!
I was mortified. Appalled, from across the road I said “really?” Mostly too myself but she heard it.
She looked only slightly sheepish and pulled her dog away. I guess it’s fertilizer. Still. It seemed disrespectful to me. Inconsiderate.
Unfortunately, this kind of thing happens at work too. The disrespect. The lack of consideration. The meanness. No thought for how others might feel at all. No understanding or care for the impact of their actions.
I do hope this isn’t your experience, or something you’ve witnessed.
But it most likely is, you most likely have.
Incivility at work is on the rise. That’s what Christine Porath and Christine Pearson say. They’re two academics who research this area. They actually say it’s rampant!
98% of people report experiencing uncivil behavior. That’s according to their research of thousands of people. About half are treated rudely at least once a week. That was in 2011. In 1998 it was about a quarter.
What’s with that?
No-one wins here. Not the suffering recipients, not the witnesses, not the bottom line.
Incivility comes in many forms. It can be blatant bullying to subtle and insidious behaviour. It erodes engagement, well being, profitability and profits.
What can you do?
Be a model of civility. Leaders provide a lens through which the entire work experience is viewed.
Encourage politeness and friendliness – please, thank you, hello and good bye. Unfortunately we can’t rely on good old-fashioned manners. These days a reward system might be needed.
For example, Zappos reward people who are caught in the act of doing the right thing. It’s their ‘Wow’ recognition program. “Wow” that it’s even needed, I say.
Penalize bad behavior. If you tolerate it, what kind of message are you sending? There have to be consequences. Even if it’s a little rap on the knuckles or something like Julie Bishop’s – the Australian Foreign Minister’s – Death Stare.
I hope you have a well-mannered week.
Best wishes,
Michelle
Photo by Lisa Forkner on Unsplash
