top of page
Writer's pictureMichael B. Benedict

August is National Civility Month!

Updated: Aug 19


Ten Tips to Foster Civility


National Civility Month is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. It was created to encourage people and communities to be more respectful and courteous with each other. The goal is to establish a more harmonious society where we treat others how we wish to be treated—with kindness, empathy, and respect.


Nine hands joining together to celebrate National Civility Month

Image Credit: UNCTAD.org


This year has been a challenging one for the world when it comes to civility, from an attempted assassination attempt on former President Trump to an escalating war in the Middle East, unrest in England, France, and Haiti, and the continual attack on religious minorities on college campuses throughout America and Europe.


Yet, we must not let these challenges discourage us from pursuing civility - it is needed more than ever, and it requires all of us - yes, all of us, to do our part. Societal civility begins and ends with the individual, so in the spirit of direct action, here are ten tips for contributing to civility. If you have other ideas, please share them in the comments section below.


Communicate simply and clearly by thinking through how our words will land on others’ ears before speaking. Effective communication has enormous power. It can change people’s lives both positively and negatively. The choice is ours.


Be mindful of your tone of voice. Small children and dogs may not understand your words, but they understand and feel your tone and meaning. Too often, we fail to appreciate the power of the voice and its ability to affect others’ lives.


Practice safe touch, e.g., a handshake or high-five, and respect physical boundaries. Different cultures have very clear guidelines around touching. Learning about these differences before interacting with people from foreign lands helps avoid making an inadvertent faux pas.


Use facial expressions that convey kindness. A smile can brighten someone’s day. Think about how a smile can brighten our day, and do what we can to share the feeling of joy.


Always ask if someone would like your help before taking action - including the disabled, those who may be suffering, or anyone you feel compelled to assist. As frustrating as it is at times, always be sure to discern between what is your responsibility and what is not.


Continue to remember those less fortunate in our society by donating your money, time, or expertise to a charity. The need is perpetual and always appreciated. We can and must shrink the gap between the inalienable human rights to which we are born and those we can access.


Acknowledge and respect older persons. Their experience, knowledge, and wisdom should earn their respect. Rather than writing them off, embrace them, as they can show us how to improve.


Use Please and Thank You often, especially with service industry employees. The cashier, server, or customer service agent does their best to brighten your day and always appreciates being acknowledged.


Ignore aggressive drivers. Don’t engage with them. Just let them go. Your safety comes first.


Find ONE thing you have in common with someone you may not normally speak with. Having an informal chat with a stranger may be all we need to bring civil discourse back into our communities.


Implementing these ten tips in our interactions with others sets an example. Acts of kindness and consideration challenge the prevailing behaviors of modern society. It takes the collective efforts of all of us to make a consequential shift in civility. Please join us in this effort because we can move the needle of change forward together. Let’s not fail to make the effort.


Fellow civility authors Jay Remer and Michael Benedict are co-writing a new book that addresses personal barriers to achieving a civil life while outlining helpful solutions anyone can implement. This post is the fourth in a series of weekly, solutions-based articles.


_______________________________________________________________


Michael Benedict published his first book, The Civil Society Playbook: A Commonsense Plan for a Return to Civility, in 2024. His career spans 25+ years in senior-level marketing positions at Fortune 1000 companies, tech startups, and marketing consultancies. His book covers areas of incivility that are not frequently discussed in the media. It offers solutions - actions - that anyone, regardless of age, can implement to improve civility in all aspects of society. He can be reached at michaelbbenedict@gmail.com. The book is available on Amazon, Apple Books, and Audible.

Comments


bottom of page