A lot of leaders think that it’s impossible, or impractical, to behave with compassion in the workplace. Self-aware leaders understand that building a compassionate workplace is possible. You can design any type of workplace you wish, from the harshly autocratic to the kind and compassionate.
You can consciously promote compassion in the workplace by doing things like:
- Behaving with kindness.
- Treating people like human beings.
- Supporting flexible work hours.
- Providing benefits.
- Allowing people to grow.
- Allowing employees to think for themselves.
- Encouraging diversity and inclusion.
- Listening to people’s ideas and concerns.
- Giving people responsibility.
- Understanding that people have lives outside work.
I can hear the steam coming out of some leaders’ ears as they struggle with the idea that you can actually create a compassionate workplace and get stuff done. For too long, the norm has been to build workplaces that subjugate and control people instead of helping them grow and succeed. You can be the one to use self-awareness to break that cycle, especially if you’re in a leadership position.
What will you do to increase self-awareness and promote compassion in your workplace?
Cheers,
Guy