Speech in the workplace. In some workplaces, there are no limits—whether it is voicing an opinion, gossiping about co-workers, expressing personal problems, or using profanity. While freedom of speech may be a right, respectfulness is essential in how we communicate with one another.
It is easy to get caught up in work and forget basic politeness toward co-workers. Taking time to express extra words of politeness and kindness can build teams and win co-workers over to grow a positive, more congealed team. Politeness can include thanking someone for their help on a project, complimenting good work, or appreciating a co-worker with a positive remark. Recognizing co-workers creates positive energy which can become exponential energy to the individual, the team, and the overall project at hand. Acts of kindness in the workplace may be also mean correcting others when lines are crossed to remind them to be respectful. There is a responsibility to create a positive company culture by always fostering and advocating respectfulness and kindness as the standard in any work environment. Being kind in the workplace also means adding a little extra effort, at times, to make the next person’s job a little easier. Bringing kindness, politeness, and respect to the workplace increases morale and makes the work environment welcoming and positive.
On the contrary, negative communication in the workplace brings morale down and can affect the entire company. Besides lowering morale, negative communication can also be damaging to the inner spirit of individuals. When a person is talked about at work, shunned, or subjected to flying words of profanity, it affects even more than morale, but the very essence of the person. It is hardly an environment that anyone would want to work within for very long. Moreover, how can a company be successful with such discord? Practicing respectfulness and kindness creates value to the employee as a team member and also assures as not to deride human dignity, which sometimes is not realized.
Whenever humans get together, interactions are not immune to confrontation or disagreements. These have the potential to quickly spiral in escalation and can easily get out-of-hand with verbal attacks of inappropriate remarks. Most professionals are able to maintain a calm demeanor and know how to back-off to de-escalate in situations such as these. Being silent and allowing the other person to cool off, before responding, is a way to maintain professionalism while respecting the other individual. Recognizing situations like these and knowing how to react to prevent this is a way to practice kindness in the workplace.
Communication, which is not in person, can easily be misconstrued, especially with e-mails. Shorter, direct emails help eliminate room for misinterpretation. It is always best to ask for clarification, or better yet, take a few minutes to meet with the individual in person. In-person meetings are the best way to resolve conflict. It is easy to hide behind an email or phone call. There is less avoidance with person-to-person communication and issues can be addressed with a human realness which cannot be found by email or over the phone.
While HR manuals are a basis for the company’s desired expectations, it is the employees themselves who must uphold this and create the company culture. HR manuals are the ideal and many companies do not adhere to them. Surprisingly enough, keeping like-minded cultures, even negative ones, seems to be the recipe for success, probably because complete turnover would be too costly. For companies to flourish and businesses to grow, positive work environments must be part of the mix. Respectfulness causes streamlined processes with less conflict and builds individual and team morale to drive energy for growth. Prove that being kind works. Work on adding kindness at work with respect and professionalism. Be that kind of company and employee.
Posted @cultureofkind, www.bit.ly/2XNuz2x
cherbloggin 