August is National Civility Month!
Civility has recently climbed to the top of search trends, and with SHRM’s #CivilityAtWork initiative, the conversation is gaining real traction. But here’s the question: do you truly understand what civility means in the workplace? And do you know how to build a culture of civility?
We’ve been building positive workplace cultures for nearly two decades, and civility has always been at the core of what we do. It’s not a trend for us. It’s a proven strategy for organizational success.
The need is clear. Studies show that nearly every working adult has experienced incivility on the job. In fact, 98% of employees say they’ve encountered rude or dismissive behavior at work and nearly half report it happens on a weekly basis. Even more concerning, it’s found that after experiencing incivility, nearly half of employees intentionally decrease their effort, and a quarter take their frustration out on customers.
Let that sink in: incivility at work doesn’t just affect how people feel. It directly impacts performance, engagement, customer experience, and retention.
So, What is Civility?
Civility is small acts that demonstrate you value another person. It could be waiting until someone is finished speaking before you respond, apologizing for bumping into someone as you walk past them, or waiting your turn in line. All of this indicates you value the people around you.
It’s not about forced positivity or avoiding difficult conversations. And it is not about being nice all of the time. It’s about being respectful, even when there’s disagreement or stress.
It’s shown through:
- Listening actively
- Acknowledging contributions
- Giving feedback constructively
- Including others in conversations and decision-making
- Using respectful tone and language
Civility is the baseline behavior that creates psychological safety, and psychological safety is the bedrock of high-performing teams.
What is Incivility?
Conversely, incivility is the act of demonstrating you do not value another person. It also includes small but impactful behavior like interrupting someone, bumping into someone and not acknowledging it, or cutting in line. Cutting someone off on the freeway certainly says you find your destination and life more important than theirs, even though that particular message is not your intention.
However subtle, these are toxic behaviors that cause harm, even if unintentionally.
Too often, these behaviors are dismissed as personality clashes or “just how they are.” But over time, incivility corrodes culture. It drains morale. And it pushes good people out the door.
Even if it doesn’t meet the legal threshold of harassment or discrimination, incivility still causes real damage—to the person, the team, and the organization.
Your Action Steps
Start by paying closer attention to the way you communicate. Before hitting “send” on that email or text, take a moment to ensure your words convey what you actually intend. In conversations, notice not just your words but also your facial expressions, gestures, and tone. These small shifts in awareness can transform how others experience you.
We’ve created a fresh, updated resource bundle packed with practical tools to help you build a workplace where respect, trust, and collaboration can truly thrive. Even if you’ve grabbed our bundle before, this new version is filled with updated insights and tips—definitely worth a look!
Creating a Culture of Civility Starts with Intentional Action
If you’re in HR or leadership, you’ve likely felt the weight of this already. Maybe you’re managing conflict between employees with no clear resolution or dealing with turnover that can’t be fully explained in an exit interview. Maybe you’re stuck in reactive mode, responding to complaints instead of preventing them.
That’s where we come in.
We help organizations shift from reactive to proactive, from frustration to intention. Whether the issue is subtle incivility or more overt toxicity, we bring structure, strategy, and tools that move culture forward. Our approach is rooted in behavior-based systems, equipping leaders to model the values they want to see—and empowering employees to thrive within them.
We don’t just talk about workplace civility. We engineer it.
Workplace culture sends messages every day about what’s accepted, what’s rewarded, and who belongs. The question is, are you sending the right message?
Let’s make sure you are.
Schedule a conversation with us and take the first step toward a healthier, more civil workplace.
PS: Don’t miss Catherine Mattice’s LinkedIn Learning course, Communicating With Respect at Work, for actionable tools to foster civil, effective communication across your team.
