Christine Porath argues for fighting fire with kindness in business at upcoming BYU forum address
Christine Porath found a way to combat business hostility through civility, and she will share her findings with BYU students in an on-campus forum address this month.
PROVO, Utah, Nov. 5, 2018 –Christine Porath will address the BYU community in a BYU Forum on November 27, 2018 on the importance of civility in the workplace, as its opposite –incivility –can have a negative effect on the bottom line.
Porath, an associate professor from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University, has conducted years of research regarding the negative effects of hostility, rudeness and incivility in the workplace. Porath found civility got most people ahead, while incivility hurt the bottom line. Porath’s research concluded that of employees who were on the receiving end of incivility, 78 percent said their commitment to the organization declined and 48 percent intentionally decreased their work effort.
“It has been a great opportunity researching this topic,” says Porath. “I honestly hope that my findings are helping professionals become better leaders, so that all employees can experience a healthful working environment.”
Attending Porath’s speech will help students learn what it takes to be a good leader: being civil. She argues that students can start their path to being good leaders now. Her research about the ideals of civil leadership coincide with Brigham Young University’s motto of “enter to learn; go forth to serve.”
“Who do you want to be? Whether you know it or not, you are answering this question every day through your actions,” says BYU President Kevin Worthen, addressing BYU students. “Christine Porath’s research will be a wonderful topic for you to hear as you continue to work towards your academic and professional goals.”
President Worthen and other BYU leadership aim to have many students in attendance. Most campus offices and services will be closed during the forum so the community may participate. Porath will present her findings to the BYU community Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 11:05 a.m. at BYU’s Marriott Center in Provo, Utah.
About BYU Forums
BYU Forums is designed to help students extend their knowledge of social, cultural and intellectual matters while celebrating the sense of community and values in the university. BYU Forums leadership asks noted authorities in the arts, sciences, humanities, media and government –such as Bryan Stevenson, founder of Equal Justice Initiative; John Roberts, 17th chief justice of the United States and Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook –to speak to students once a month. Forums take place in the BYU Marriott Center and are occasionally broadcasted to other campus meeting places. For a full archive of past forum speakers, go to www.speeches.byu.edu.
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Media Contact:
Megan Adamson
Director of Media Relations
760-290-9390
megan.adamson@byu.edu
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