Civility in Practice with SHRM’s Emily Dickens

Mission Forward with Carrie Fox

In a world where incivility seems to be on the rise, both in our personal lives and in the workplace, how can we, as individuals, make a difference? Emily Dickens, Chief of Staff, Head of Government Affairs, and Corporate Secretary for SHRM, believes the answer lies in practicing civility—one conversation at a time.

This week on Mission Forward, Carrie Fox delves into the power of civility with Dickens. They explore how simple acts of kindness, empathy, and grace can transform workplace cultures and why HR professionals play a critical role in driving this change.

Dickens shares personal anecdotes from her unconventional career journey, highlighting how access to education and mentors who believed in her potential shaped her mission to elevate the HR profession. She discusses SHRM's recently launched Civility Campaign and why leading with a "care for others" approach is far more effective than the all-too-common "self-serving" leadership style.

Fox and Dickens also tackle tough questions about navigating the post-COVID workplace, balancing empathy with accountability, and the dangers of labeling others based on limited interactions. Dickens emphasizes the importance of recognizing that "we are all more than our worst thing" and giving others the grace to evolve.

This is a conversation that can challenge the way you think about your daily interactions and inspire you to strengthen your own "civility muscle." As Dickens notes, even the smallest gestures can spark a ripple effect, empowering us all to build more respectful, inclusive, and thriving workplaces.

This episode is sponsored by SHRM.org.

• (00:00) - Welcome to Mission Forward
• (02:42) - Introducing Emily Dickens
• (08:27) - The Power of Communication and the Civility Campaign
• (20:35) - Transparency
• (22:50) - Dignity and Respect
• (26:46) - Civil Impressions
• (28:54) - Action Steps
• (34:28) - Learn More
• (37:19) - Sponsor: SHRM

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