Culture Killer #6: Incivility - The Tone You Set is the Trust You Get

He had a disrespect rap sheet "a mile long" - years of cutting people off, belittling ideas, and using power to silence dissent. Everyone saw the pattern. And there were warnings, coaching, and quiet hand slaps. But the problems persisted and so did his position of power.

Worse yet, his behavior became the blueprint. His deputies mirrored the style, and it was clear: this is how we do things here.

Incivility is low-intensity, disrespectful behavior that violates workplace norms of respect and dignity.

It might look like:
✅ Leaders consistently canceling or deprioritizing team meetings.
✅ Colleagues cutting each other off in conversation.
✅ Team members feeling belittled, dismissed, or ignored.

Unlike blatant misconduct, incivility often goes unaddressed. But the damage is real.

People disengage. Productivity drops. Turnover rises. Trust breaks. Innovation stalls and risk levels elevate because no one wants to speak up in a room where it's not safe to be heard.

The 2024 Q4 SHRM Civility Index estimates a collective daily loss of $2.7 billion for US organizations, stemming from reduced productivity and increased absenteeism.

We know that when people feel seen, heard, and safe, they show up differently. They contribute more. They collaborate. They innovate. They move faster and trust deepens.

In the end, culture is defined by the worse behaviors you tolerate.

What are you tolerating? And what is it costing you?

Sources:

Porath, C. L. & Gerbasi, A. (2015). Does Civility Pay? Organizational Dynamics, 44(4), 281–286. https://lnkd.in/eK4xCkhm

Fiske, S. T., Cuddy, A. J. C., Glick, P., & Xu, J. (2002). A model of (often mixed) stereotype content: Competence and warmth respectively follow from perceived status and competition. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82(6), 878–902. https://lnkd.in/ekakg2hy

SHRM. (2024, December 18). The Cost of Incivility: Addressing Workplace Challenges into 2025. https://lnkd.in/eSNW62mk