Page 260 - How Great Leaders Build Abundant Organizations That Win

THE WHY OF WORK

But we did find ourselves wondering if there is a time and a
place to turn off the cell phone and put out some flowers.
We did wonder if civility is a lost art worth cultivating.
In political debates where strongly held positions often
lead to degrading others’ points of view, civility has too
often been replaced by hostility. As a result, the gears of the
political process become stuck and no one benefits. Wise
politicians can disagree without being disagreeable and
have tension without contention. Political, organization, and
personal civility shifts the debate from how we differ to how
we can come to agreement, from how the other person is
wrong to what we can learn from the other person, and from
demeaning others to respecting them (even if we disagree).
Civility doesn’t have to be stuffy or punishing, of course,
and the type of civility we recommend should be neither.
Instead of upturned noses or lots of rules, think writing
notes of appreciation, acknowledging birthdays or personal
events, offering little acts of kindness and respect, exhibiting
basic politeness, smiling. Civility that is warm and friendly
can help grease the skids of working at close quarters with
people we don’t always agree with. It won’t work very well
to expect sales reps to be sincere and polite to customers if
we are not sincere and polite to them. Rate yourself (1 = low,
5 = high) on the following:

I promptly and sincerely thank people for good work or extra
effort, often in writing.
I am appreciative and friendly to people who perform menial
tasks.
I say please, thank you, and “I goofed—I’m so sorry” to
both colleagues and customers.

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