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Frequently Asked Questions

What is civility?

“Civility means a great deal more than just being nice to one another. It is complex and encompasses learning how to connect successfully and live well with others, developing thoughtfulness, and fostering effective self-expression and communication. Civility includes courtesy, politeness, mutual respect, fairness, good manners, as well as a matter of good health.”- Pier Massimo Forni, Director of the Civility Institute at Johns Hopkins University

What does civility look like?

Examples of civility include:  

  • Respect and courtesy in language, demeanor, and actions  
  • Respectful acknowledgement of individual differences, opinions and viewpoints
  • Empathy and patience   
  • Thoughtful caring and kind in my interactions
  • Mindful of my verbal and nonverbal communication
  • Courteous, polite, and professional
  • Supportive to others who are experience uncivil behavior 


What does incivility look like?

Examples of incivility include:  

  • Using insulting, disrespectful, dismissive, or humiliating language and/or actions 
  • Belittling someone
  • Teasing or mocking someone
  • Blaming someone 
  • Dismissal of someone’s thoughts, ideas or feelings
  • Speak condescendingly
  • Talking in unprofessional language
  • Berating, scolding or criticizing someone angriling
  • Making unfounded assumptions and ensuing accusations
  • Participating in workplace gossiping
  • Excluding people
  • Interrupting people
  • Using demeaning language
  • Talking over someone in a meeting
  • Rolling eyes in response to something a someone says
  • Disrespecting authority
  • Bullying colleagues or subordinates
  • Abusive micromanaging subordinates