Sustainability, the new buzz word of the business world today. When leaders talk about sustaining and sustainability they are mostly referring to the Global, going green movement. While walking through Midway airport in Chicago, I wondered to myself how this word “sustainability” could be used in relationships. Bored by the billboards along the walk way, I turned my attention to the blank stares of the people moving along the auto sidewalk, seemingly intentionally avoiding any eye contact with other human beings passing through their path.
The word civility came to mind and then I began to wonder how civility connects with sustainability. My mind continued to wrap around these two concepts as I walked past the bustling mob of zombie like men and woman traveling to their important destinations. Could civility have long term sustaining affects on the world? What would it be like to have sincere smiles replace blank stares?
Two small girls passed by me, about knee high and they looked up, smiled at me then giggled when I returned the greeting. Civility: how we behave in regard to others is an interesting concept. I watched as suited travelers focus their attention on their hand held communication tools.
In the business world, sincere regard for others has been replaced by the multi tasking Blackberry focus. What would be the long-term sustaining affect of putting the blackberry down and having a genuine conversation with another human being? HMMM, just thinking, what would it be like in a corporation to have people actually focus on the people around them versus the blinking red light that let’s them know there is another message waiting to be answered.
I imagine the memos being sent about customer service and how important it is to give good service by the distinguished gentleman in the black overcoat as he sits oblivious to the people around him, looking up briefly, only to catch something on the television monitor above his head.
If we as a society would take the time to slow down and recognize the benefits of utilizing civility, treating people like people instead of total disconnection to the world, we may actually be able to work as a community to get things done more effectively. If we could only for a short time practice recognizing others for who they really are and the impact each person makes, opposed to focusing on pumping out another email, sustainability would make a lot more sense in the world in which work and live.
Think about it, what does sustainability with civility mean to you and your business? How could you incorporate it into your business model to be more productive?
