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The Top 10 Rules for Civil Behavior. Presented by Tim Tucker. Theory Introduce Dr. Forni Paradigm shift Call to Action. Application Defined Notions exercise Principles Assertion exercise Rules Discussion. Agenda. P. M. Forni, Ph.D.
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The Top 10 Rules for Civil Behavior • Presented by Tim Tucker
Theory Introduce Dr. Forni Paradigm shift Call to Action Application Defined Notions exercise Principles Assertion exercise Rules Discussion Agenda
P. M. Forni, Ph.D. • Teaches Italian literature at Johns Hopkins University • Studied at the University of Venice, the University of Pavia (’74) and UCLA (’81)
Credits • P.M. Forni, Choosing Civility, The Twenty-five Rules of Considerate Conduct, New York, St. Martin’s, 2002 • Robert Bolton, People Skills, New York, Simon & Schuster, 1980
How Can We Be Better People? Tim’s self-help formula • Some deficit seems obvious • Usually involves discomfort • Works against our preferences • Ends (goals) justify the means • It’s hard to be successful • There is always guilt and it’s easy to quit
Civility As A Paradigm Shift • Easily overlooked • Awareness as distinguished from effort • Kindness is natural • Like unlearning some of the “isms” • Changed my behavior cognitively, dedication more important than work • I don’t think I can go back
Why Is Civility Important • I think we are all experts in civility • I think incivility seems inevitable • I think we can repossess civility • I think we need to • For ourselves • For our students • I am making a call to action
The Baltimore Workplace Civility Study • Random sample of 400 Baltimore area workers with 130 (32.5%) responding • 67% felt society had become less civil in the past year • 25% felt the workplace was less civil than a year ago • 83% said it was “very important” to work in a civil environment
The Baltimore Workplace Civility Study The most agreement of “Uncivil” Workplace Behavior was on the following • Taking, without asking, a co-worker’s food • Refusing to work hard on a team project • Shifting blame to coworker for mistake • Reading someone else’s mail • Neglecting to say please/thank you
The Baltimore Workplace Civility Study “Violent Workplace Behavior” • Pushing a co-worker, heat of argument • Yelling at a co-worker • Firing a subordinate, heat of argument • Harshly criticizing a subordinate in public • Using foul language
The Baltimore Workplace Civility Study Responses to Incivility • Discussed outside of workplace (88%) • Discussed with co-workers (85%) • Contemplated changing jobs (70%) • Felt less commitment to company (63%) • Confronted the instigator (44%)
The Baltimore Workplace Civility Study Effects of Incivility • Quality of life drops • Quality of service drops • Quality of product drops • Stress rises • People feel rushed • Accident rates (W/C) rise
The Baltimore Workplace Civility Study Cost of Incivility • Decreased work effort (37%) • Work loss due to illness (9%) • Healthcare/EAP (13%) • Dr. Forni’s point is that “being good is good for you.”
Defined • From the Latin civitas, city • Life in the city was to have a “civilizing” effect
How Civil Are We? • We are experts • It’s a great message even if the messenger is conflicted
What Does Civility Mean to You? • List the notions
Respect for others Care Consideration Kindness Fairness Self-control Tolerance Etiquette Peace Community Service Tact Equality Sincerity Honesty Awareness Trustworthiness Listening Compassion Abiding by rules Some Popular Notions of Civility
Civility is in the Realm of Ethics According to Dr. Forni • Being civil means being constantly aware of others….” • Civility is benevolent and thoughtful relating to others • Civility includes the well-being of our communities, and the • Health of the planet
Examples • Interpersonal • Community • Environment
Interpersonal • Please and Thank you • Lowering our voices • Considering our response • Acknowledging a newcomer to the conversation • Listening to understand and help • Acknowledging our mistakes • Disagreeing with poise
Community • Welcome a new neighbor • Respect those who differ from us • Refuse to participate in gossip • Raise funds for a neighborhood • Stand on the right of an escalator • Make new coffee after taking last cup • Yield with grace when losing argument
Environment • Proper disposal of pollutants • Proper disposal of trash left by someone else • Following traffic laws (safety, courtesy) • Kindness to animals • Turning out the lights • Turning off the faucet
Principles • Relationship • Respect • Self-expression • Restraint • Assertion
Appeal To The Best in People • Building relationships • Consider the feelings of others • Consider the comfort of others • Treat others the best way we know how
Respect in Action • The “everyday practice” of “respect for persons.” • “Harmonious and caring relationships foster a happy life.”
Civility and Self-Expression • “Restraint offers a space between intention and action and the opportunity to protect others from actions or reactions that should exist only in your imagination.” Stephanie Dowrick
Restraint • “Sometimes we confuse having fun with being happy.” • “Restraint is the art of feeling good later” • Do I really want to do this? • Is anybody going to be hurt by this? • Will I like having done this?
Assertion Message (Robert Bolton, 1982) • Is it in my space? • Using non-polarized (charged, value-laden) words, describe the behavior • And, tell how it made you feel • (State the cost/impact, if identifiable) • Repeat, if necessary
Assertion Exercises • The driver of a car parked next to you bumps your door • A presentation runs over • Your boss makes a highly challenging assignment and you are already busy • Your child bounces in your favorite chair until it breaks • A group of students are noisy in the halls when you are giving a tour
Rules • In the texts of all religions • Renaissance ideals • Philosophy works • Self-help books • Forni condenses these into 25 “rules”
1. Pay Attention • Awareness of surroundings, students colleagues • What is or could be happening? • How will we make it different? • Ex: Salt shaker
2. Acknowledge Others • We monitor our relationships • The invisibility game dismisses the presence of others • Ex: Cutting in a line
3. Think The Best • What do we expect? • Goodness • Honesty • Could the young man standing in front of the large home own it? • Tempered with the realism that your opinions can change
4. Listen • How much time do we have for each other? • Value the messenger • Pay attention • Value the message • Make sure we understand
Active Listening • Make listening the goal of the moment • Demonstrate your attention • Eye contact • Reflection • Restatement • Co-operative • Separating priorities • Critical thinking, concluding questions
6. Speak Kindly • At the heart of civil behavior • Improves the lives around us • Are our words an improvement over silence? • Permit others to speak in turn • Be aware of your non-verbals • Never yell at anybody • Never use profanities
7. Don’t Speak Ill • “Nobody ever gossips about other people’s secret virtues.” Bertrand Russell • “Politics on campus are so fierce because the stakes are so small.” George Brelsford, Rowan University • Response: Depart, silence, defend, challenge
11. Mind Your Body • Remember non-verbal communication • We can offend with our bodies • Is our cologne a problem? • Keep fingers at a safe distance from your mouth, ears and nose. • Keep your mouth closed when chewing • Never spit • Don’t scratch yourself
13. Keep it Down(and Rediscover Silence) • Thinking about silence as a choice, not as a void waiting to be filled • About preserving another’s peace • TV, CD’s, Cell phones, computers, leaf blowers, car horns, • Places of worship, libraries, restaurants, theaters • Campus, office, halls, classrooms
17. Assert Yourself • Expect to be treated in a civil manner • Saying “no” to someone may be saying “yes” to yourself No phrases: • No, thank you. • No, I don’t think that would be a good idea. • No, It’s not what I had in mind. • No, I’m not comfortable with that.
19. Care for Your Guests • Guests need not earn our hospitality • What is the ethic of care in our offices? • What expectations do we have of staff? • How important are the people we work with? • Guests can feel “at home” when expected to take care of themselves.
Critical Thinking • Arrival
Is formality suspicious? • What is the state of altruism? • How prevalent is restraint today? • Is achievement at odds with civility? • What happens if we wait for civility?
5. Be Inclusive A mindset • How long have we held our beliefs? • Choose conversation topics that can be enjoyed by all • Summarize for a newcomer • Welcome a new neighbor • Develop and demonstrate an interest in other cultures