by Karla Brandau, CSP

According to Dr. Robert Sternberg, professor of psychology at Yale University, "street smarts" is a far better predictor of managerial success than academic performance. His theory of intelligence goes beyond the traditional notion of I.Q. as he purports there are three facets to intelligence:

• Abstract intelligence-the ability to analyze, deduce, and think logically
• Experiential intelligence-the ability to creatively combine different experiences to solve a problem
• Contextual intelligence-the ability to use one's environment to play the game.

Contextual intelligence. or the ability to read what is happening in a group and react appropriately, is this street smarts or practical intelligence referred to by Dr. Sternberg.

I call it “PeopleSmarts.”

The by-product of contextual intelligence or PeopleSmarts, is increased morale, mutual learning and the improvement of outcomes which spells higher productivity.

A simple definition for PeopleSmarts is: Simple acts of decency. Simple acts of decency are often forgotten when teams stretch themselves thin to meet deadlines and accomplish more with less. However, simple acts of decency can destroy invisible walls of resistance and improve the ability of the team to produce a better product in less time.

So if productivity is an issue in your organization, practice simple acts of decency. Simple acts of decency provide positive connections between people. Try these today:

1. Listening: “To do all the talking and not be willing to listen is a form of greed,” says Greek philosopher, Democritus of Abdera, c. 450-c. 370 B.C. Listening to another person’s ideas or viewpoint is a personal compliment and is a simple act of decency.

2. Smiling: Pianist and comedian Victor Borge has described a smile as "the shortest distance between two people." A smile is a small gesture but has a powerful impact on other people who, seeing your smile, are more inclined to listen to you and treat your opinions with respect.

3. Overlooking: How long has it been since you made a snappy putdown and then wished you could stuff it back in your mouth? The normal human tendency is to magnify other’s mistakes and limitations. Simple acts of decency overlook human error and simple personality kinks. Simple acts of decency give others the benefit of the doubt.

4. Reframing: When confronted with a negative, reframe the negative to a positive. I recently checked into a hotel that had advertised a brand new look…totally redone. Everything was white from the white tile floors to the white walls and white light fixtures. I first thought, “How sterile.” Then practicing what I preach, I thought, “I must have died and gone to heaven.” Simple acts of decency reframe a negative into a positive. For instance, instead of saying, “You saved the file in the wrong directory (dummy)” you say, “The file is right here. It was saved in the last place anyone would look.”

When you practice simple acts of decency, others will, too. The work environment becomes more user-friendly and more productive.

Simple Acts of Decency Tactical Tips:

1. Be polite. Remember the first things your mother taught you: don’t interrupt, say “Please” and “Thank you.”
2. Practice human respect. Listen to the ideas of others and never interrupt.
3. Connect with appropriate body language. Use the power of your smile and the twinkle in your eye to connect on a human level with those you would like to influence.
4. Give others a break. Look at it from their viewpoint, assume the best – not the worst, and don’t pass on gossip about anyone.
5. Reframe. Find the positive in the negative. Reframe in your mind what is happening to you and you’ll find a myriad of ways to turn everyday events to your advantage.