The George Washington Monument at Federal Hall in Lower Manhattan is shown in 2009.

The George Washington Monument at Federal Hall in Lower Manhattan is shown in 2009. Felix Lipov/Shutterstock.com

GovExec Daily: How to Foster a Culture of Civility and Empathy

Former State Department official Shelby Scarbrough joins the podcast to discuss her book that draws from George Washington's rules for civility.

America’s public discourse has gotten rougher over the past decade, with incivility on the rise.  Social media, more coarse politics and more disconnection have made civility more and more rare. As our society and political system try to deal with complex problems, civility goes by the wayside.

Appreciating everyone’s common humanity is a key component of civility and a key component of fostering a civil society.  Shelby Scarbrough is a former U.S. Department of State protocol officer and has worked with leaders like Nelson Mandela, Margaret Thatcher and five U.S. Presidents. Her upcoming book, Civility Rules!: Creating A Purposeful Practice Of Civility, looks at how everyone can use civility to build a better society.  She joined GovExec Daily to discuss how to cultivate civility in our lives and in our society.

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