Fundamentals Of Civility

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: *

1. Respect others and yourself.
2. Be aware.
3. Communicate effectively.
4. Take good care of yourself.
5. 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