How to create a culture of civility and respect in the workplace

When it comes to earning the loyalty and dedication of all employees there is one simple thing that everybody needs to practice — respect. According to a recent report from the Harvard Business Review, respect in the workplace can go a long way to improving the overall culture of a company.

Here is what Harvard Business Review learned about workplace respect from the nearly 20,000 employees from around the world who responded to the survey:

• 56 percent reported better overall health and well-being
• 89 percent have greater enjoyment and satisfaction with their jobs
• 92 percent have increased focus and task prioritization
• Nearly two times more likely to stay with the current company they work for

Respect in the workplace has a clear affect on how engaged and dedicated an employee is to their work. People who reported feeling respected by their managers were nearly 60 percent more engaged with the tasks they need to complete on a daily basis. Fifty-four percent of people, however, said that they do not feel respect from those above them at work, which in turn leads to less dedication from them. What impact does this have on a company? These are just a few of the costs of a lack of professional respect:

• Increased health care costs
• Greater frequency of employee turnover
• Less focus on productivity with tasks at hand

If you have noticed this cycle of a lack of respect in your office, there are ways you can change this and create a more positive and productive work environment. Be sure to bring this up at the next staff meeting, or even while having a one-on-one with your immediate supervisor.

Here are a few ways you can ensure your workplace is one of respect for all employees:

• Focus on the needs of others and think before you speak
• Appreciate all points of view and listen to each perspective
• Understand that conflicts will occur and take responsibility for your actions
• Avoid the tendency to get caught up in gossip or other negativity in day-to-day interactions
• Seek to understand any problems and what can be done to resolve them efficiently
• Encourage others to listen to their coworkers and not react to information defensively

The most important thing everybody in the workplace can do is make the effort to be civil and show their coworkers the respect that they deserve. According to the Harvard Business Review, there are a few main reasons why people feel they have no time to be respectful. Of those surveyed, 60 percent reported feeling stressed out and short on time, so they do not have the minutes to spare to be nice. Twenty-five percent said they do not have a role model for how they should be behaving while at work, and instead just imitate how they see their corporate leaders acting.

These are hollow excuses, as it takes no time to show somebody respect! By doing so, you can vastly improve not only your own workday, but the entire company culture around you.

A great way to separate the best from the rest is through pre employment testing. These tests will be able to help you determine who will and will not make a good fit in the culture of your company.

Check out the rest of our website to learn more about the services we offer and how we can help you make the best possible hires for your company!