• Home
  • About
    • Why choose The Parks Image Group?
    • What others are saying…
    • Media
  • Corporate Workshops
    • Business Etiquette Training
    • Corporate Civility Training
  • Civility in the Workplace
  • Speaking
  • Resources
    • News and Articles
    • Books
    • Video
  • Blog
  • Contact

Peggy M. Parks, AICI CIP, CPBS

Ambassador of Corporate Civility

The Parks Image Group

Business Etiquette and Corporate Civility Experts
serving company, leadership and staff
Peggy M. Parks, AICI CIP, CPBS
Contact The Parks Image Group today and let us help you:
  • build corporate credibility and staff confidence; and
  • ensure that your employees at every level of the company represent your corporate brand and message, both internally and when they interact with the public.

Outbursts & A Call for Civility

by Peggy M. Parks, AICI CIP, CPBS

Has the world gone mad? Every day we hear of someone who has either lost their temper, cursed someone out, or spewed racially insensitive words!

Last week Dr. Laura Schlessinger repeated the “n word” several times on her radio show after a black caller phoned in to complain about her white husband’s friends using the derogatory term in her presence. That was totally inappropriate and unacceptable. Although she apologized the next day, Dr. Laura kept going back to that word as if she enjoyed saying it. It’s an outrage to have a radio personality speak this way. Radio shows and TV networks are constantly fined for “obscene” language or nudity (thank you, Janet Jackson), but I find this incident much more offensive. When you are in public eye, you have a responsibility to behave in a civilized, educated, and mindful way. And as a human being, that sort of language and taunting is unforgivable.

Then we have Steven Slater, the JetBlue flight attendant who lost his temper, cursed at a passenger, deployed an evacuation slide, and drove home. The worst part about him is that he received instant celebrity and was condoned by some. I hear he was even offered a reality show! How can we reward someone who is so mindless of others, especially when he is in the customer service industry? Yes, we’ve all dealt with annoying or rude customers, but it’s so much better to just take a deep breath and get through the situation with dignity.

And don’t get me started on Mel Gibson. His outbursts have tanked his career. Perhaps he will be like Alec Baldwin—who once famously left a nasty voicemail for his own daughter—and enjoy a career renaissance after a few years, but it seems unlikely. His nastiness has tarnished his accomplishments.

Apparently none of these people know the three Rs of civility: Respect, Restraint, and Responsibility.

As you know, my mission this year and for the rest of my life (!) is to help bring civility back not only into the workplace but in the world. I am a member of the Civility Counts Project spearheaded by the Association of Image Consultants International and our goal is to promote civility in our community.

That doesn’t mean we expect everyone to curtsy to each other or anything over-the-top like that. It simply means being human, and treating others like you would like to be treated. Remember that old concept? It means not pushing people out of your way, or using foul language, or neglecting to thank someone, or threatening someone because they took the parking spot you wanted. It means being polite, calming down, and showing respect for others.

I challenge each and every one of you to join me on my civility crusade. Life is too short to be nasty!

Filed Under: Etiquette, Image Tagged With: alec baldwin, anger, business etiquette, career, celebrities, civility, civility counts project, dr. laura schlessinger, etiquette, foul language, Image, image consultant, insensitivity, mel gibson, mindfulness, outbursts, parks image group, peggy parks, respect, steven slater

Follow Peggy M. Parks!

Follow Us on E-mailFollow Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on LinkedIn

Read Peggy’s Thoughts on Civility and More . . .

Thank You Notes – Tradition vs. Modernity – It Depends on the Situation

Thank you notes that are personal and handwritten are still required in certain situations. Tradition vs. Modernity For years the thank you note … [Read More...]

Expert business etiquette and corporate civility consultant in Atlanta Georgia serving clients throughout the Southeast.
© 2012 - 2023  Peggy M. Parks, AICI CIP, CPBS •  Post Office Box 52066  •  Atlanta, GA 30355