Design for civility: how to stop your colleagues behaving badly
In a challenging and uncertain world, ill will is spilling over into the workplace. A neuroscientist advises on the design decisions that can help ease the tension
No matter where you look these days, dissention seems rife.
People are refusing to allow others access to train seats, claiming two or more for themselves with belligerent comments. Baristas are becoming yet more surly. People are maniacally locked into whatever is being communicated to them via their ear pods (perhaps messages from the mother ship) and working really hard to feel like they are the only person in a crowded plaza or market.
At a national, local and personal scale, there are reasons that humans have reached this current level of incivility. There is a lot of malaise-generating stuff going on in the world right now (even for the most optimistic among us). As a result, many are trying to self-isolate via ear pods, or by commandeering spaces, or by driving people away with poor behaviour.
Tips from neuroscience
It would be nice to be able to grab humanity by the lapels, stare into its eyes and say ‘Behave – Be Polite,’ but that is not how things get resolved. So, what are some of the straightforward, lower cost, neuroscience-based things that we can do to improve the current social climate?
As designers and managers of space, there are some useful tips to lower the current temperature of dissent:
When areas need to be repainted or redesigned, let warm colours predominate (but don’t use red). People seen with warmer shades behind them seem friendlier than those in front of cooler ones.
Select colours that are less saturated and lighter, such as sage greens with lots of white mixed into them; they support more pleasant exchanges with others.
Use more curving lines (in textiles and furniture, for example) than straight ones as the curvier elements signal comfort while geometrics with lots of straight lines and sharp corners communicate ‘efficiency’ and ‘action’.
Make sure those seated are perched on at least minimal cushions (even an inch will do)—not hard seats. We interact more pleasantly with others when we do.
Give people opportunities for gracious eye contact breaks. A fishtank to which they can divert their eyes every so often, or a small plant in the middle of a conference room table, will do the trick here. We all need to break eye contact from time to time, and when we can do so by looking at something that seems to justify our attention, such as swimming fish, we seem more polite and that’s good for mingling.
Make sure the seats of all who will be in any conversation have legs that are the same length. That way everyone’s opinions have a shot at being respected equally, and fewer hard feelings lead to better discussions.
Avoid manipulation
Subtly add the scents of lavender and nature soundtracks— mind you, if you are heavy handed with the fragrances or play the nature sounds too loudly, people will feel like you are trying to manipulate them, and all will be lost.
Add a green leafy plant (be wary of making a space too visually complex) and open the blinds to let in as much (glare-free) natural light as you can.
These environmental modifications can make pleasant interactions with others more likely, but will not guarantee them. Keep track of the multiple incivilities you encounter and laugh about them with your friends, as long as your friends haven’t committed them.
