Why being respectful to your coworkers is good for business | Christine Porath

Summary

The transcript highlights the profound impact of civility on professional success and personal well-being. It underscores how respectful, considerate actions uplift others and enhance performance, while incivility can lead to stress, decreased motivation, and errors. Through research and examples, it demonstrates that civility in leadership fosters better engagement, health, and productivity. The message is clear: treating others with respect and kindness not only benefits individuals but also boosts organizational performance, creating a positive, effective work environment.

Takeaways

• 🤔 The question 'Who do you want to be?' is pivotal in defining one's professional success as it influences how one interacts with others.
• 🙌 Respecting and valuing others through one's actions can either uplift or demoralize them, significantly impacting the work environment.
• 😡 Incivility, which includes disrespect or rudeness, can manifest in various behaviors and is subjective to the individual experiencing it.
• 🏥 The speaker's personal experience with a father affected by work-related stress highlights the real-life consequences of incivility.
• 🎓 The speaker's academic exploration into the effects of incivility on performance and well-being was initiated by personal encounters with a rude work environment.
• 📊 Research findings indicate that incivility can lead to reduced motivation, increased worry, and even job loss among affected individuals.
• 📉 Incivility is costly for organizations, with Cisco estimating a loss of $12 million annually due to uncivil behavior.
• 👀 Witnessing incivility can also negatively impact performance, suggesting that the effects of rudeness are contagious.
• 🧠 Even exposure to rude words can impair attention and decision-making, emphasizing the pervasive influence of incivility.
• 🚑 The impact of incivility extends to critical fields like healthcare, where it can lead to fatal mistakes due to decreased team performance.
• 🤯 Despite the evident costs, incivility persists due to stress and misconceptions about the perceived benefits of being uncivil or abrasive.
• 🏆 Long-term success is not attributed to uncivil behavior; in fact, it is often the downfall of executives, as shown by research.
• 🌟 Civility pays off, as it fosters leadership qualities and is linked to better performance and being viewed as warm and competent.
• 💡 Small acts of civility, such as smiling, listening, and acknowledging others, can significantly improve interpersonal dynamics and organizational outcomes.
• 📝 The story of Campbell's Soup Company's turnaround under CEO Doug Conant illustrates the transformative power of civility and respect in the workplace.
• 🌐 Civility is a choice that can be practiced in all aspects of life, from work to home and online, to create a more positive and productive environment.

Q & A

What is the main question addressed in the script?

The main question addressed is 'Who do you want to be?' and how this question influences professional success through daily actions and interactions with others.

How does the script define incivility?

Incivility is defined as disrespect or rudeness, including behaviors like mocking, belittling, teasing, telling offensive jokes, and texting during meetings.

What were the key findings from the study on incivility conducted by the speaker?

The study found that incivility leads to decreased motivation (66% reduced work efforts), lost time worrying (80%), and employee turnover (12%). Additionally, witnesses to incivility also experienced decreased performance.

What impact did incivility have on a biotechnology firm, according to the script?

In a biotechnology firm, employees who were seen as civil were twice as likely to be viewed as leaders and performed significantly better.

What example does the script provide to illustrate the severe consequences of incivility in a medical setting?

The script describes a situation where a doctor shouted at a medical team, leading to a wrong medication dosage being administered, resulting in a patient's death.

Why do some people believe incivility persists in the workplace?

People believe incivility persists due to stress and the concern that being civil or nice may make them appear less leader-like or effective.

What research findings does the script mention regarding the long-term success of uncivil individuals?

Research by Morgan McCall and Michael Lombardo found that the number one reason for executive failure was an insensitive, abrasive, or bullying style. While some uncivil people may succeed temporarily, they often sabotage their success in the long run.

How does civility affect an individual's perception in the workplace?

Civility leads to individuals being seen as warm and competent, friendly and smart, which enhances their likelihood of being viewed as leaders and performing better.

What simple actions can make a big difference in promoting civility, according to the script?

Simple actions like thanking people, sharing credit, listening attentively, asking questions humbly, acknowledging others, and smiling can significantly promote civility.

How did Doug Conant turn around the performance of Campbell's Soup Company?

Doug Conant focused on high performance standards combined with civility. He led by example, handwrote over 30,000 thank-you notes, and emphasized the importance of daily respectful interactions (touch points) with employees.