“Civility costs nothing and buys everything”. This is one of my favorite quotations attributed to Lady Mary Wortley Montague in the early 18 century.
There has been numerous studies and surveys initiated on the subject of civility in the last years that revealed the lack or apathy regarding civility in North America. However, there is major outcry for incivility and complaints about the “death of civility”, which impacts our daily lives and our interaction with others.
With the effort of the Civility Counts Project of the Association of Image Consultants International (AICI), the month of May is declared by Chase’s Calendar of Events the International Awareness Civility Months. The purpose of this effort is to increase global awareness about civility and to encourage people from all walks of life to embrace it.
What is civility and how can we practice it?
Civility is far more than political correctness or displayed politeness. The word civility has the same etymology with civilization; it comes from the Latin ‘civis, which means citizen. This says it all.
Civility is not only random acts of kindness, politeness and proper social behavior, but goes deeper into the approach employed by every one of us in discussing all issues that keep us together or those that divide us. It is not only the attitude and thought; It is the act and labor of ensuring respect for each other as one of our core values. Civility is a code of conduct based on treating others with Respect, Restraint and Responsibility, irrespective of differences, as defined by Dr. Forni, co-founder of the Johns Hopkins Civility Project.
Understanding the triggers of incivility beyond the apparent circumstances may help you grasp that in most cases uncivil behaviors are not personal. Nevertheless, incivility has consequences. You all know that what goes around comes around. So the immediate effect may be related to an everlasting proliferation of frustration, anger, stress, lack of trust, and ultimately a setting back in business relations, and efficiency.
Then, how can we practice civility? Lao Tzu said ”By the accident of fortune a man may rule the world for a time, but by virtue of love and kindness he may rule the world forever”.
Let us all join hands together and embrace civility to make a difference.
By: Randa Mufarrij - Co-chair of AICI Civility Counts Project Ambassadors Program
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