Civility is one of those things you understand best when it’s missing. You recognize its absence when you feel uncomfortable, stressed or tense. A dictionary will tell you civility means being polite and courteous, yet, most agree it’s much more.
Consider these five fundamentals of civility: *
- Respect others and yourself.
- Be aware.
- Communicate effectively.
- Take good care of yourself.
- Be responsible.
Let’s further explore these, to understand the causes of incivility and how to cultivate civil behavior in our medical workplaces.
Source: "The Five Fundamentals of Civility for Physicians," by Michael Kaufmann, MD, Ontario Medical Review, March 2014
