Making a Good Workplace Great

CDL Conference 2010

Introductions

• Julie Gedro, Central New York

Mentor, Faculty Chair, Forum Director

• Mary Morton, Office of the President

Affirmative Action Officer

Program Outline

• Introduction• Purpose• University and College Vision• Civility Terms and Concepts• Interactive Case Study & Reporting Out• Communication Exercise• Wrap-up

Purpose

• Evoke dialogue and raise awareness around workplace civility.

• Discuss the alignment of university initiatives with our college strategic initiatives.

• Discuss ethical, moral and legal implications that arise out of incivility in the workplace.

• Enhance the quality of work life.

SUNY’s Core Values

• Student Centeredness – Keep students at the center of all we do

• Community Engagement – learning goes both ways

• Diversity & Acceptance – it makes us stronger and smarter

• Integrity and Collegiality – It’s the bedrock of our business

• Collaboration – makes our expertise more powerful

College Strategic Plan

Vision Statement – reads in part:

“The college, as a premier institution for adult learning within SUNY and across the nation…

The college creates and supports cooperative

initiatives among all segments of the population to

foster respect, civility and a welcoming environment.”

Vision 2015

Three Strategic Themes:A. Innovative learning organization

B. Sustaining and Management Growth

C. Telling our Story

Strategic Theme “A”

To be an innovative, learning organization, we need to:

• Do better by our learners• Do better by each other• Developing a culture innovation, reflections

and continuous improvement

Civility in the Workplace

Definitions

• Civility: “Civility is the sum of the many sacrifices of living together.”

(Carter, 1998, in Estes and Wang, 2008)

• Incivility: “Low intensity deviant behavior with ambiguous intent to harm the target, in violation of workplace norms for mutual respect.”

Pearson (1999, in Estes and Wang)

Incivility Examples

Condescending and demeaning comments

Overruling decisions without a reason

Disrupting meetings

Giving public reprimands

Talking about someone behind his or her back

Incivility Examples

• Giving others the silent treatment

• Ignoring someone

• Not giving credit where it is due

• Sexually harassing someone

• Giving dirty looks or negative eye contact

• Insulting or yelling (Estes & Wang)

Negative Behaviors:

• Rude comments

• Insensitive actions

• Unintentional slights

• Complaining

• Gossip/rumors

• Cultural bias

• Crude jokes

• Profanity

Verbal and Physical Aggression

• Yelling / loud voice• Belittling comments• Intimidation / threats• Discriminatory

comments• Cursing at someone• Humiliation

• Assault / Battery• Throwing objects• Violent outbursts

(e.g., hitting the wall)• Inappropriate

touching• Harassment

Positive Behaviors

Can you identify characteristics of an effective workplace?

Barriers to Effectiveness

What are some individual and organizational barriers to effectiveness?

Barriers to Effectiveness

Bullying: Repeated, health-harming mistreatment of one or more persons (the targets) by one or more perpetrators. May include:

• Offensive conduct/behaviors which are threatening, humiliating or intimidating

• Work interference -- sabotage -- which prevents work from getting done.

Bullying Tactics

• False accusations of errors not actually made

• Staring or glaring

• Discounting the other person’s contributions

• “Freezing out” and isolating and employee from others

• Exhibiting mood swings in front of the work group

Barriers to Effectiveness

MobbingMobbing is emotional abuse in the workplace.

• "Ganging up" by co-workers, subordinates or superiors, to force someone out of the workplace through rumor, innuendo, intimidation, humiliation, discrediting, and isolation.

• Malicious, non-sexual, non-racial, general harassment.

Small Group Scenario’s

• 10 Minutes – Work in small groups – read and discuss scenario

• Reporting out

Expectations Exercise

Individual Exercise:On a piece of paper, record 5 items that you expect from colleagues in the workplace on a day-to-day basis (office etiquette).

Examples:

• Pick up an item that has fallen on the floor rather than stepping over it

• Fill up the copier if it has run out of paper

Expectations Exercise

• Place a check next to each item that you agree should be an “unwritten rule”.

• Report out

So….What can you take back?

A Culture of Civility

• Clearly define expectations for how employees treat each other

• Learn social norms and customs• Have a cooperative approach• Learn tolerances• Recognize individual differences• Be open to adapting your position• Leaders model civility for others• Reward civil behavior

Focus on common groundrather than differences

Make the workplace BETTER!

Questions???Questions???

THANK YOU FOR ATTENDINGTHANK YOU FOR ATTENDING