5 Steps to Encourage Civil Conversations at Work

At SHRM, we know that civility is essential for thriving workplaces. A respectful environment fosters engagement, innovation, and reduced turnover, all of which support organizational health and performance. Here’s a quick guide to help encourage civil conversations and build a resilient workplace culture. You can also access the complete guide here.

1. Educate Yourself 

It is crucial to equip yourself with knowledge and understanding of the current state of civility and incivility in both the workplace and society at large.  

2. Establish a Shared Understanding of Civility 

Building a strong foundation for team civility starts with a shared understanding of civility, often called a shared mental model. By ensuring everyone agrees on civil and uncivil behavior, your team can communicate and resolve disagreements better.  

3. Identify Team Norms for Mutual Respect 

After developing a shared understanding of civility, establishing clear team norms for mutual respect will further guide your team’s interactions. These norms will define how your team interacts, communicates, and resolves conflicts in a civil manner. These norms are specific behaviors expected from everyone in the group.  

4. Promote a Culture of Civility 

With shared definitions of civility and team norms for mutual respect in place, you can actively cultivate a culture of civility within your team. This culture reflects employee expectations of how leadership and managers utilize policies, procedures, and practices to maintain a respectful and civil work environment. These behaviors are expected not only from leaders but also from team members.  

5. Become a Catalyst for Civility 

Remember, that fostering civility is an ongoing process, and doing so will further cement civility as a norm and expectation in your workplace culture.  

At SHRM, we understand that building civility is an ongoing process, and each interaction helps create a workplace where respect and openness are the standard.