Mastering Civility, a new book by Georgetown University management professor Christine Porath, outlines the harmful effects of incivility in organizations. It is a concise and compelling look at the increasing prevalence and mounting costs of incivility in the workplace. Focused on how incivility negatively impacts the bottom line, the book suggests practical actions for those who aspire to improve individual and organizational outcomes by recognizing and addressing abrasive behavior.
Contrary to the oft repeated suggestion to “suck it up” when it comes to the daily incivilities common in the workplace, research indicates just how damaging this type of behavior can be to productivity. Ignoring destructive behavior allows it to fester and contributes to a culture of incivility.
Incivility significantly undermines organizational effectiveness. Mastering Civility offers useful tools for assessing individual and institutional incivility and fostering a culture of civility. Far from encouraging employees to ignore and brush off rude behavior, managers should consider their efforts to grow an organizational culture of civility a sound investment in increased effectiveness.