Pebbles, compliments of james_ michael_hill via Flickr

“…I am my relationships – my relationships to the subselves within my own self and my relationships to others, my living relationships to my own past through quantum memory and to my future through my possibilities.  Without relationship I am nothing” [Zohar & Marshall, 1990, p. 145].

 How often do individuals at work feel ignored by their colleagues (or in the worst case scenario, attacked), rather than encouraged and supported? Southwest Airlines is an exemplar in the area of employee relations. Its goal is to create a culture in which associates feel free to express their support for one another – and, to create a circle of affirmation which they affectionately call “Luv.” Kelleher (former CEO of Southwest) explained his commitment to cultivating civility at work:  “We are interested in people who externalize, who focus on other people, who are really motivated to help other people…we are not interested in navel gazers, regardless of how lint-free their navals are” (Freiberg & Freiberg, 1996, p. 216).  Turn the page…