At our All-to-All meeting on January 27, 2025, Chris Georgiou, a program manager in the Accelerator Technology & Applied Physics Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), presented how the core stewardship values of Berkeley Lab support respect and civility in the workplace. The Lab’s core stewardship values are:
Team Science
We recognize that innovative solutions to complex problems arise from a diversity of thought, approaches, experiences, and roles. Our tradition of inclusion dates to our founding director, E.O. Lawrence, who pioneered the practice of team science for large, complex scientific challenges.
Service
We are driven by a commitment to public service, excellence, and solutions to the real-world challenges faced by people, the planet, and the nation.
Trust
We strive to earn the trust of the public, the scientific community, our stakeholders, and each other by safeguarding our record of excellence, integrity, safety, openness, reliability, and accountability.
Innovation
We believe our success depends on the free exchange of ideas, the willingness to think differently, the freedom to take risks, the agility to respond to evolving needs, and the ambition to make an impact. We promote and protect these characteristics of our Lab and our people.
Respect
We depend on contributions from many people, disciplines, and roles to unlock the potential of individuals and teams. Each of us takes responsibility for the well-being, safety, and belonging of others in our communities.
Georgiou says the following behaviors underpin respect in the workplace:
- Exhibit an interest in and appreciation for others’ perspectives, knowledge, skills, and abilities. Express recognition and show sincere gratitude for the efforts and contributions of others.
- Openly communicate information about policies and procedures so everyone has access to and is operating with similar information.
- Clarify decision-making processes and, when appropriate, seek input into those processes, erring on the side of inclusive leadership.
- Consider whether you are in a position to serve as an ally on behalf of others. Ensure you understand allyship and focus on advocating with, not just for, others—because advocacy should be done in close partnership with those we intend to serve.
- Take concerns seriously; if someone or a group shares that they feel wronged, show sincere empathy as you seek to better understand that perspective and offer a genuine apology.
Respect and Civility
According to the late Pier Massimo Forni, a professor at Johns Hopkins University and co-founder of the Johns Hopkins Civility Project, who authored “Choosing Civility: The Twenty-Five Rules of Considerate Conduct” (St. Martin’s Press, 2002):
“Civility means a great deal more than just being nice to one another. It … encompasses learning how to connect successfully and live well with others, developing thoughtfulness, and fostering effective self-expression and communication. Civility includes courtesy, politeness, mutual respect, fairness, good manners …”
Actions that can be taken to further respect and civility in the workplace include:
- Treating others with kindness
- Being courteous and polite
- Saying please and thank you and showing appreciation for others’ contributions
- Considering others’ knowledge & experience
- Listening to understand others without interrupting
- Not disparaging others
For more information on ATAP News articles, contact caw@lbl.gov.
