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August is National Civility Awareness Month
Use Your Emotional Intelligence to Reclaim Civility
Civility is defined as demonstrating and maintaining respectful behavior toward one another, even when we disagree. Essentially, Civility is how we treat each other with respect especially when we disagree. Many people have a desire to reverse the growing trend of incivility, both in our personal interactions, and within our social media experiences.
While many of us recognize and experience the lack of civility, we often are unsure of how to restore civility. Being civil towards others does not equate to agreement but rather requires respect for someone with whom we disagree. Civility is a component of Emotional Intelligence (EI). Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and manage one’s emotions and recognize and respond effectively to others. Civility only comes into play when we disagree with others and treating others with respect when we do disagree.
Civility is far more than politeness. It provides an opportunity for diverse groups of people to develop a deeper understanding of one another’s values, opinions, perspectives and ideas for potential solutions. There are four domains in Emotional Intelligence which are: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management. How does one put their emotional intelligence into action to help reclaim civility in our communities? Here are some simple tips and strategies to apply one’s emotional intelligence for civility:
Self-Awareness Strategies:
- Be Mindful of Your Own Behavior.
- Don’t Interrupt or Talk Over Others.
- Respect Differences.
Self-Management Strategies:
- Do Not Engage in Side Conversations.
- Actively Listen for Content.
- Pause Before Replying.
- Model Civil Behavior and Speech.
Social Awareness Strategies:
- Show Respect for Others and Yourself.
- Seek Common Ground.
- Ask Clarifying Questions.
- Differentiate Between FACTS and OPINIONS.
Relationship Management Strategies:
- Separate People from the Problem.
- Gather the Best Available Facts.
- Stand up for Yourself and Others.
- Limit Interpersonal Misunderstandings.
- Apply Reframing and Questioning.
Our communities and our residents will become stronger and more resilient if we take steps toward reclaiming our civility by using our emotional intelligence.
For more information on reclaiming civility, read here.
