Christine Porath, an associate professor at Georgetown Universitys McDonough School of Business, in an op-ed for the Sunday New York Times.
Ive surveyed hundreds of people across organizations spanning more than 17 industries, and asked people why they behaved uncivilly. Over half of them claim it is because they are overloaded, and more than 40 percent say they have no time to be nice. But respect doesnt necessarily require extra time. Its about how something is conveyed; tone and nonverbal manner are crucial.
Incivility also hijacks workplace focus…My studies with Amir Erez, a management professor at the University of Florida, show that people working in an environment characterized by incivility miss information that is right in front of them. They are no longer able to process it as well or as efficiently as they would otherwise.