Incivility in the workplace can take many forms, it can take place in private, or it can be something which occurs publicly. However, why ever, and whenever it occurs, it can have devastating effects on the individual and the employer. In this post, we offer some practical ways to deal with this issue in the workplace and some compelling statistics to back-up the reason why such issues must be dealt with.
The True Impact of Incivility at Work
According to research and a resulting study that was published on the topic on incivility at work, its impact can result in workers losing motivation, putting less effort into their daily tasks, and ultimately not turning up to work as often as they should. Alarmingly, 78 percent of respondents admitted their commitment to a company decreased following issues with civility; 47 percent reduced the time they spent at work and 38 percent reduced the quality of their work.
Taking place in many forms – snarky remarks, interruptions, emails that include other members of an organization unnecessarily, and misleading information passed onto colleagues and management – are all minor forms of incivility which, when allowed to continue, build-up and impact the individual along with the overall culture of a company.
How to Tackle Civility Issues at Work
- Awareness. Making people aware of the issue and the impact it can have is the first stage that a business needs to go through in order to effectively tackle incivility at work. A soft approach is deemed to be the most effective when handling matters of a sensitive nature such as this.
- Training. Formulate a short training session to “inform” the team of the wider issue and impact that civility has on the individual and on the business. Let people know how they can report issues should they feel this is something they are either witnessing or experiencing themselves. Always ensure there is a dedicated person and a sponsor of the training who is a highly regarded member of the senior management.
- Treat Matters Seriously. Following through on the previous points is perhaps the most important stage of the process. Without this, the efforts mentioned above will be wasted. If someone takes the time to report an issue, follow up promptly and treat matters with the sensitivity that is warranted. Gather facts, collate evidence, and have a pre-determined course of action in place for dealing with matters fairly and accordingly.
Aside from the above points, it is always important that we all review our own experiences and behaviors. Regardless of how busy, pressured, or senior a person might be, being rude, dismissive, or otherwise behaving inappropriately is never warranted.
Please contact me today if you would like to discuss this very important topic in further detail.
