Peace on earth may seem like a tall order, given the state of the world. However, there are ways you can foster a more peaceful climate in your organization. In this context, peace means a calm, nonviolent and civil (at the bare minimum) workplace. Why bother? As leaders, it is incumbent upon us to do what we can to encourage productivity. Peace of mind eliminates distractions, creates focus and clarity and allows people to bring urgency to the important work at hand.

To create more peace in your corner of the world, try these strategies:

Start with you. Manage your own emotions before you expect it of others. As Daniel Goleman, emotional intelligence guru, says, you need to be intelligent about emotions rather than acting from them. Don’t bottle up feelings, and seek wise counsel if you feel that your emotions control your behavior.

Confront unacceptable behavior. Set and enforce standards for civility and care, regardless of the degree of frustration or emotional intensity.

Uncover pockets of disharmony. Your people will disagree and argue, and that can be extremely fruitful. However, when disagreements turn personal or ugly, or when it’s a daily ritual without resolution, you need to get involved. If necessary, bring in a neutral party who can help the warriors resolve their issues and set new guidelines for disagreeing well.

Keep peacefulness on the front burner. Use a visual cue to remind you of how important it is to maintain inner peace and outer harmony.

Creating peace in your organization doesn’t mean that you hold group meditation sessions or create bizarre rituals. It may mean taking two minutes at the start of each day to center yourself and think of what really matters. Encourage others to do likewise. You have the ability to contribute to a workplace culture that enhances a person’s life, rather than decreasing its quality. “If you wish to experience peace, provide peace for another” (Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama).