Embracing Civility and The Golden Rule

So many unique aspects attracted me to Southwest Airlines more than three decades ago, and even more have compelled me to stay these many years. Chief among them are the People and the Culture. One aspect in particular made an immediate and lasting impression on me—a rule that has served as a guiding principle above all others, championed by our beloved President Emeritus Colleen Barrett—the Golden Rule.

It’s so simple, and yet so profound: “Treat others the way you wish to be treated.” It’s remarkable what happens when that mindset is emphasized and applied in any Culture, and especially in a large Company like Southwest. The beauty of it lies in the diversity of our People. We celebrate our differences in a way that brings us closer together, much like a Family. Of course, People are complex, and you must work at it. But the rewards are incredibly fulfilling and yield amazing results. Southwest is world famous and often admired for our People-centric Culture, and it all starts with how we treat each other.

I have a growing concern that, as a larger society, we are becoming more divisive and less civil toward each other. I see it in politics and the media, and I especially see it online in social forums. I’m sure smart people could debate why this has become so prevalent—and I certainly don’t propose to have all the answers. What I do know is a little civility goes a long way. And an abundance of civility could bring us all closer together, help us understand each other, make us stronger, and enable us to fulfill the dream of “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” that our Founding Fathers imagined.    

In my experience, I have found that interpersonal conflict often results from of a lack of understanding. The more we listen to each other, the more likely we are to engage in civil discourse and achieve an understanding. In those meaningful interactions, we find the good in one another. It’s not always easy—or even pleasant—to try to understand another perspective. It challenges us and, perhaps, makes us question our own strongly held beliefs. But it also serves to open our minds and our hearts to our fellow neighbor. It has to start with a desire to listen, to understand, and to be tolerant of different points of view, and a desire to be reasonable, patient, and respectful. I would argue the exercise is worth it, and I’m confident the result would be a better life for us all. And that is a dream worth pursuing!  

This article appears in the February 2017 issue of Southwest the Magazine, which you can find online at: https://issuu.com/southwestmag/docs/february2017/18