SHRM President and Chief Executive Officer Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox on Thursday dove into the importance of respectfully talking with people who don’t share your point of view.
“Disagree Better: The Power of Civilized Dialogue” was the theme of their discussion during the Culture Builders Summit in Sandy, Utah, that explored the National Governors Association’s (NGA’s) Disagree Better Initiative.
Respectful, civil dialogue is a message SHRM has been emphasizing in 2024.
On March 7, SHRM announced its “1 Million Civil Conversations” initiative. The workplace is the No. 1 place where people are exposed to diverse points of view, and SHRM research found that two-thirds (66 percent) of U.S. workers experienced or witnessed incivility in the workplace over the past month. One-third (33 percent) expect workplace conflict to increase over the next 12 months.
“What if we turn our discord into dialogue? What if CEOs, CHROs and politicos were catalysts for civility?” Taylor asked in a LinkedIn post earlier this month. “At SHRM we know people and businesses are at their best when they lead with civility,”
Cox has hosted public forums on the topic in Washington, D.C., in addition to spearheading the NGA initiative. “We know that conflict resolution takes work and involves difficult conversations,” Cox notes on the initiative’s website. “Through healthy conflict, we’re confident that we can find common ground and improve our families, our communities and our nation. Together, we can disagree better.”
SHRM will address the topic at the SHRM Annual Conference & Expo 2024 (SHRM24), June 23-26 in Chicago. Civility-related topics at SHRM24 include Conflict De-Escalation and Resolution for the HR Professional, Control Conflict! Collaborate More. Counter Less, Creating a Culture of Psychological Safety: Making It Safe to Speak Up, and You Make Me Soooo Mad!! Emotional Intelligence for Real People!
Other SHRM Resources:
The Impact of Civility on Organizational Success, SHRM Online, March 6, 2024
Workplace Incivility Is More Common Than You Think, SHRM Online, March 5, 2024
How to Manage Political Discussions in the Workplace, SHRM Online, Feb. 21, 2024
Black Employees Discuss Effects of Hostile Work Environments, SHRM Online, Feb. 12, 2024
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