Do Nice People Finish Last or Best? | Christine Porath | TEDxUniversityofNevada

Summary

This script emphasizes the powerful impact of civility in the workplace and beyond. It explores the detrimental effects of incivility, including reduced performance, lower motivation, and even health consequences, through both personal anecdotes and research findings. The speaker shares how small actions, such as showing respect and kindness, can improve morale, productivity, and leadership potential. Ultimately, civility not only boosts individual and organizational success but is also a key driver of positive interpersonal relationships. The message is clear: being civil pays off in all aspects of life, from work to personal interactions.

Takeaways

• 😀 Civility in everyday actions shapes who you are and impacts your professional success. How you treat others defines your reputation and effectiveness.
• 😀 Incivility, defined as rudeness or disrespect, can be subtle (like texting during a meeting) but has significant consequences on individuals and teams.
• 😀 Witnessing incivility, even without being the direct target, can negatively affect performance and well-being.
• 😀 Exposure to incivility can reduce motivation, focus, and productivity, leading to costly mistakes, such as medical errors in high-stakes environments.
• 😀 Rudeness and disrespect are contagious; witnessing or even reading about uncivil behavior can cause people to underperform.
• 😀 Despite the negative impacts of incivility, many people continue to engage in it due to stress or skepticism about the effectiveness of being civil.
• 😀 Research shows that long-term, incivility undermines leadership success. Abrasive or bullying behavior is the leading cause of executive failure.
• 😀 Civility is not just about avoiding rudeness; it involves actively lifting others up through small, everyday actions like smiling, listening, and acknowledging others.
• 😀 People value respect more than other forms of recognition or feedback. Leaders who treat people with respect foster better engagement and productivity.
• 😀 Organizations that emphasize civility and respect—like Campbell Soup under Doug Conant—see improved performance, employee satisfaction, and organizational success.

Q & A

What is the main question that defines professional success according to the transcript?

The main question is: 'Who do you want to be?' This question defines your professional success based on how you show up and treat people.

What is incivility, and how does it manifest in the workplace?

Incivility refers to disrespect or rudeness, which includes behaviors such as mocking, belittling, teasing, telling offensive jokes, or texting during meetings.

How does incivility impact the performance of individuals and organizations?

Incivility leads to decreased motivation, with people cutting back on their work efforts, losing time worrying about the incidents, and even leaving their jobs. This reduces overall productivity and can harm an organization's bottom line.

What were the findings of the study on the effects of incivility in the workplace?

The study found that 66% of employees affected by incivility reduced their work efforts, 80% spent time worrying about the incident, and 12% left their job. These effects resulted in significant financial costs for organizations like Cisco, who estimated a loss of $12 million annually due to incivility.

How does witnessing incivility impact a person’s performance?

Witnessing incivility can significantly decrease a person's performance, as studies show that even observing rude behavior can impair attention, decision-making, and overall functioning.

What are the broader effects of incivility beyond the workplace?

Incivility can affect emotional well-being, motivation, attention, and performance in various contexts such as at home, online, in schools, and in communities. It can even lower brain power and make people less effective in their daily tasks.

What research did the transcript mention regarding the effects of rudeness on decision-making?

The research showed that when participants were exposed to rude words, they made more mistakes, took longer to make decisions, and missed important information. This could have serious consequences in critical situations, such as in healthcare.

Why is civility important for leaders, according to the transcript?

Civility is essential for leaders because it fosters respect, improves motivation, and helps to create a positive, productive environment. Leaders who are civil are more likely to be seen as competent, warm, and effective, which enhances their leadership potential.

How does civility impact organizational performance?

Civility leads to improved organizational performance by increasing employee engagement, satisfaction, and productivity. Research indicates that respectful environments lead to better outcomes for employees and the company overall.

What are some simple ways to promote civility in the workplace?

Promoting civility involves small actions such as making eye contact, smiling, listening attentively, thanking people, acknowledging others, and sharing credit. These simple behaviors create an environment of respect and appreciation.

How did Doug Conant's leadership at Campbell Soup Company exemplify the importance of civility?

Doug Conant's leadership demonstrated civility by setting high performance standards while treating people with respect. He focused on 'touchpoints'—small daily interactions—where employees felt valued, and he personally wrote over 30,000 thank-you notes to reinforce a culture of civility, leading to improved organizational performance.