We often think of productivity killers as poor processes, lack of resources, or unclear goals. But what if the real problem was something much more subtle—like a dismissive tone, a curt email, or an eye-roll in a meeting?
A recent study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology shows that exposure to even mild workplace rudeness can significantly reduce your problem-solving ability, teamwork, and overall productivity. It may even make you ill. This is especially concerning in fields like scientific research and business leadership, where clear, critical thinking and collaboration are essential.
Why Rudeness Disrupts Productivity
It’s not just about workplace culture—it’s about how our brains process social interactions. Studies show that workplace incivility increases cognitive load, meaning employees spend mental energy replaying negative interactions rather than focusing on their tasks. In environments where precision, innovation, and decision-making are key, this distraction can slow progress, increase errors, and stifle new ideas.
The Role of Emotional Intelligence Training
This is where emotional intelligence training comes in. Emotional intelligence or EQ training helps managers and teams:
- Recognize unintentional incivility and adjust their own communication style accordingly
- Build self-awareness and emotional regulation, preventing stress-related outbursts
- Foster a culture of psychological safety, where employees feel comfortable speaking up
The Cost of Ignoring Emotional Intelligence Training
Research from Georgetown University found that over 50% of employees who experience workplace incivility intentionally reduce their effort—leading to lower productivity, disengagement, and higher turnover. The problem? Most workplace rudeness isn’t intentional. Without having had the opportunity to undertake emotional intelligence training, many managers are simply unaware of the impact a careless word or gesture might being have on their teams’ performance.
Leadership training with EI at its core
All of our leadership development programmes include a strong element of EI training, threaded throughout the course content. A focus on EI can be especially important in STEM organisations, which tend to attract highly analytical minds whose training has often focused on process over people.
You can read more here: Lab to Leader training / Effective Leadership Programme
Supporting Research:
Journal of Applied Psychology study on rudeness and performance → Read here
EQ workplace productivity meta-analysis → Read here
Georgetown University study on the cost of workplace incivility → Read more