Learn about the National Standard – Civility and Respect

Summary

This script addresses the importance of civility and respect in the workplace, especially during times of conflict. It highlights how actions perceived as uncivil, like eye-rolling or sarcasm, can escalate to more serious issues. The example of Sylvia and Trung illustrates the potential for misunderstandings and disrespect when assumptions are made about a new team member's capabilities. The video encourages creating a psychologically safe environment, valuing diversity, and promoting respect through training and policies. It concludes by prompting viewers to consider their role in fostering a respectful workplace.

Takeaways

• 😡 It's crucial to recognize and manage frustration and anger in the workplace to maintain a respectful environment.
• 🤔 Actions perceived as uncivil or disrespectful can have a negative impact on team dynamics and morale.
• 🤝 Civility and respect should be consistently practiced, especially during conflicts, to foster a healthy work environment.
• 👥 Encouraging calm and solution-oriented behavior during conflicts can prevent escalation and promote a positive workplace culture.
• 🙅‍♀️ Being aware of non-verbal cues and language that may be seen as disrespectful, like eye rolling or sarcasm, is important for maintaining civility.
• 🚫 Uncivil behavior can escalate to more severe issues such as racial slurs, intimidation, or even physical violence, which should be strictly avoided.
• 🌐 Understanding and respecting cultural, linguistic, and experiential differences among team members is essential for a harmonious workplace.
• 💡 A psychologically safe and healthy workplace is characterized by mutual respect, effective teamwork, and positive morale.
• 👀 Avoiding assumptions about what people want or need, and instead, actively seeking their input and perspectives, can prevent misunderstandings and conflicts.
• 📚 Implementing training and policies such as zero-tolerance for bullying, diversity training, and conflict resolution training can help promote respect and civility.
• 📝 Promoting civility and respect can be as simple as committing to one actionable step in the coming week to improve workplace interactions.

Q & A

What is the importance of treating each other with civility and respect in the workplace?

Treating each other with civility and respect is crucial as it fosters a psychologically safe and healthy workplace, leading to better teamwork, positive morale, and more effective conflict resolution.

How can a lack of civility manifest in the workplace?

A lack of civility can manifest through distracting, annoying, or irritating behaviors such as eye rolling, negative sarcasm, or even escalate to racial slurs, intimidation, or physical violence.

Why is it important to include new team members like Trung in discussions despite their language learning challenges?

Including new team members like Trung is important because they bring valuable wisdom and perspective. Ignoring their input due to language barriers can be seen as disrespectful and may lead to frustration and conflict.

What is the role of Sylvia in the scenario, and how could her actions be perceived by Trung and his coworkers?

Sylvia's role is to gather feedback about the project. Her suggestion for Trung to just watch until he's more familiar with the project might be perceived as a lack of respect for his abilities, even though her intention was to reduce his pressure.

How can repeated instances of disrespect impact a team?

Repeated instances of disrespect can cause frustration and lead to conflict within the team, undermining the psychological safety and health of the workplace.

What is the significance of a psychologically safe and healthy workplace?

A psychologically safe and healthy workplace is significant because it ensures that everyone has an underlying respect for each other, leading to less conflict, more effective solutions, and overall improved team performance.

Why should supervisors and employees avoid making assumptions about what people want or need?

Avoiding assumptions about what people want or need is important because individuals have diverse perspectives and experiences. It's essential to respect these differences and treat people as they wish to be treated.

What are some ways to promote civility and respect in the workplace?

Promoting civility and respect can be achieved through diversity training, conflict resolution training, implementing a zero-tolerance policy for bullying, and ensuring that everyone's contributions are valued and considered.

How can individuals contribute to fostering a respectful workplace?

Individuals can contribute by being mindful of their actions and language, actively seeking to understand and value the perspectives of others, and participating in training and initiatives that promote respect and civility.

What is the significance of the 'Treat people the way THEY want to be treated' principle in the workplace?

This principle emphasizes the importance of understanding and respecting individual preferences and needs. It encourages a personalized approach to interactions, which can lead to a more inclusive and respectful work environment.

What resources are available for learning more about psychological health and safety in the workplace?

Resources for learning more about psychological health and safety in the workplace include MentalHealthCommission.ca/NationalStandard and haveTHATtalk.ca, which offer information and tools to promote a healthy work environment.