Civility in the workplace

Respect

but how does one show civility towards his superiors, colleagues or subordinates?  it’s basically dealing with others in a way that shows respect and propriety.  we are expected to extend basic courtesy and kindness even to those we personally find unkind and unlikeable.

“in many instances, we should tailor-fit or customize our approach or interaction with people depending on the social setting and level of our relationship,” says mich gorrospe, a human resources expert and regional talent manager of a bpo firm.

even during heated heated arguments and disagreements or when faced with a customer complaint, civility means not losing one’s temper or raising one’s voice and sticking to the facts.  this helps an employee look beyond the anger, frustration and negativity.

in the case of unlikeable co-workers and especially if one is a member of a team whose roles are interdependent, one should not be distracted by their unlikeability but should instead focus on the goals by getting things done and preserving status quo, so to speak.  it is not necessary to be intimate and overfamiliar with their personal life of a co-worker—sincerely greeting people with a nod or smile and acknowledging it makes for every civil behaviour.  one can also consider understanding or reaching out to an unkind co-worker…

an excerpt from ms lilia borlongan-alvarez’ article published on 06feb11 in panorama