Small behaviours, big effect
Incivility rarely looks dramatic. It is the eye-roll, the curt reply, the message left unanswered. Individually, each moment can seem minor. Together, they shape how safe and supported a team feels.
How it shows up
Teams under pressure can find communication gets shorter and less patient. Over time, people share less, ask fewer questions and become more guarded.
What teams can do
- Name small behaviours early, kindly and without blame.
- Agree what respectful communication looks like in your team.
- Make repair normal: acknowledge when things did not go well and agree next steps.
This is explored in Part One of From Conflict to Collaboration.