Civility Isn’t Just Being Polite: It's Building A Better Workplace

Send us a text

In this eye-opening episode of The Business Fix, Chrissy Myers and Josh Troche tackle a subject that’s more critical than ever—civility in the workplace. With tensions on the rise and stress levels at an all-time high, being “nice” just doesn’t cut it anymore. Chrissy explains why civility is not just about politeness—it’s a core business strategy rooted in protecting your culture, your people, and your profits.

Drawing on research from SHRM and Google’s Project Aristotle, Chrissy and Josh explore why a lack of civility is fueling conflict in today’s organizations—especially in politically charged or high-pressure environments. You’ll learn why civility must be operational, not aspirational, and how leaders must “model what they mandate” to create a thriving culture where respect and high performance can coexist.

Topics covered include:

• The difference between politeness vs. intentional civility
• Why stress, not systems, define how people handle conflict (unless you intervene)
• The concept of a “desired state audit” and how to set cultural guardrails
• How to create psychological safety that enables innovation and accountability
• Emotional regulation vs. restraint—and how leaders can master both
• Practical advice for managers to see and measure civility on their teams
• How passive-aggressive behaviors signal deeper organizational issues
• The role of resilience over silence in building trust

This episode is packed with humor, hard truths, and helpful strategies every small business owner and manager needs in their leadership toolkit. It’s not enough to “hope” your team gets along—you must build systems that support civility under pressure.

🎧 If you’re ready to make workplace culture a competitive advantage, hit play now.

📢 Have thoughts on this episode? Drop us a comment, leave a review, or connect with us

If you're looking to get help with your culture, or to help out an entire group, reach out to Josh and Chrissy today! We would love to see how we can help you, your business, or your event. Contact us!

ClarityHR is your fractional HR team, giving you real people, real support, and real solutions. Whether it’s compliance headaches, hiring struggles, or just needing someone to take the people stuff off your plate — we’ve got your back. So if you’re ready to stop using duct-tape and hope as your HR strategy and finally get some peace of mind, head over to ClarityHR.com

If you're looking to start your own podcast or maybe you just want to add the next level of professionalism to your podcast and brand, you should be working with the producers behind The Business Fix at Pedal Stomper Productions. Click the link to learn more about how you can get your podcast to the next level. https://www.pedalstomperproductions.com

🎙 Ready to Fix What’s Holding Your Business Back?
The Business Fix podcast delivers real-world strategies to grow your business, lead your team, and reclaim your time. New episodes drop weekly—packed with insights for business owners and managers who want to do better.

🔗 Connect with Chrissy and Josh at https://www.businessfixpodcast.com/ for more tools, support, and clarity.

Enjoy the episode? Leave us a review, share it with your leadership team, and let us know your biggest takeaway in the comments!