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“We don’t pat ourselves on the back often enough” begins Lew Bayer as an intro to her story. I often worry about what I haven’t done and lose sight of what I have accomplished”.
“All over the world, women want the same things. I want to be part of women helping women. You have to be purposeful and actually do something; you can’t just talk about doing it. That is one of the reasons Roaring Women appeals to me”. Through my public speaking and also through our company’s affiliate program, I try to build business with, and for, other women.
“I’m so aware of the reciprocal aspect of the relationships I support; I’m paid back ten-fold by the women I work with in terms of their leadership, their referrals, and their trust”.
Originally from Regina, Lew went to McGill University in Montreal, graduated with a degree in Organizational Psychology and then moved to Winnipeg to pursue a Master’s Program. Between her work and marriage she stayed in Winnipeg and now calls it home.
Lew’s work at the time was in the tourism sector and she became acutely aware of the labour instability between employers and employees resulting from a lack of respect and civility. This became the foundation on which she based the need for a company to foster the improvement of these qualities.
During this time Lew had also founded Propriety Consulting doing event management. While at a hotel work contract, she met Karen Mallett. Lew and Karen shared interests and the timing was right for both of them – In Good Company, which is now the training division of The Civility Group Inc. was born.
“As our business has grown, we’ve grown too”, explains Lew. After the first 2 books had been published, the press nicknamed Lew and Karen ‘The Etiquette Ladies’. The In Good Company team operated under that brand for about 7 years. ‘The Etiquette Ladies’ which specializes in etiquette for children, youth, teens, and social protocol is now operated by another Roaring Woman, Louise Fox of Toronto.
Because their client base changed, Lew and Karen changed to offer a broader spectrum of services, and so The Civility Group Inc. was expanded to include Propriety Publications, a publications division to manage development and distribution of civility related books and training tools.
They also founded The Canadian Institute of Civility to foster understanding of intercultural etiquette and protocol. With the 2007 release of a comprehensive 7 volume Civility in the Workplace Trainer curriculum, The Civility Group is now recognized as Canada’s Civility in the Workplace Experts.
“People are interested in understanding various cultural groups represented within Canada and in understanding how to communicate more effectively with other cultures at home and abroad” states Lew.
And now, because of growing acknowledgement that communications skills, (which were once considered soft skills), are in fact essential skills, Lew teaches basic grammar, business writing and persuasive writing, emphasizing respectful communications and offering these programs with a focus on new Canadians as well as her international audience.
“Being stressed, being busy, being tired – these are not acceptable explanations for poor communications. A lack of civility is often just laziness and being disrespectful is rude!” Lew often quotes Fred Astaire’s comment from over 40 years ago, ‘The hardest job these days is learning good manners without seeing any’.
And Lew adds “We each need to decide what is appropriate and acceptable in our own homes, and communities, and workplaces. Civility is really about having a high personal standard. And it’s not as hard as you’d think to make changes. For example, the world would be a better place if we all remembered just one simple thing - saying please and thank you. Imagine the impact”.
Future plans for The Civility Group Inc. include a focus on international growth and building and increasing affiliate relationships. Lew quotes her own mother “We’re just going to keep on keeping on”. “We’ll keep on teaching and practicing the Four E Philosophy: Everyone, in every situation, gets exactly the same respect and consideration every time”.
Future plans for Lew herself include being the Regional Director of Roaring Women Winnipeg. This new chapter of Roaring Women will launch near the beginning of 2008.
Written by Marcia Barhydt
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