Estimated reading time: 13 minutes
Do you believe that compassion at work can lead to positive leadership, improved team morale, and better communication? If so, you are right! Research has consistently shown that kindness has several powerful benefits. That’s why we’ve put together a list of 10 ways to build a strong team ethos based on the power of compassion. Whether you’re a leader who wants to instill empathy in your team or want to be compassionate yourself, take a look and see how you can start applying these principles in your workplace today!
👉 Don’t forget to download your free starter kit after reading the article.
Table of contents
What is compassion?
Compassion is the feeling of empathy for another person or thing. It’s the ability to see the world from another person’s perspective and to feel their pain. With a compassionate team, everyone can work together harmoniously and problem-solve effectively.
“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion”.
Dalai Lama
A Great leader and Tibetan scholar
The power of compassion at work
Teamwork is essential for success, and compassion is the key to building a strong team ethos. Leaders who demonstrate compassion encourage their teams to do the same. In turn, this creates a safe and productive environment for employees. And you will start noticing the change.
Furthermore, showing compassion with a soft tone of voice can also lead to a culture of forgiveness and understanding. Fostering a compassionate environment can help your team achieve its goals. So, whether you’re a leader or an employee, ensure to cultivate emphatic nature and reap the rewards!
What people say?
64% of the employees feel a decline in emotional safety or see no change in the workplace.
Also, a recent independent survey on LinkedIn revealed that 95% of employees believe that compassion is necessary for the workplace.
You can use this data in any format, including social media, blogs, and presentations.
Please cite the source as Hoomale and link to Power of Workplace Compassion: 10 Ways to Build it
“Com+passion is being able to have a commonality in experiencing various human emotions, including mutual respect, empathy, and sympathy, camaraderie. Without it, we are just as a robot as the AI bots. All these humane qualities of a civilized culture have been decimated and repackaged as soft skills deemed necessary for a smooth functioning workplace. Our recent focus on hyper-competition has led to a mindset that sees ‘winner-rakes all’ as the guiding principle. So much so that all activities within the same workplace have become a zero-sum game. There is no room left for compassion, tolerance, compromise, or finding common grounds for negotiating win-win outcomes!”
Pam Mehta, Strategic and Competitive Intelligence Consultant, www.pamsprism.com
“Employees don’t care how big the company is. They only care how big the company cares about them. So when there is no compassion, employees will feel that their views don’t care much and the employees will care even less for them and the business. So leaders should CARE.”
Bill Quiseng, Chief Experience Officer at billquiseng.com
“At the absolute minimum, there should be room for self-compassion at work.”
Andy G. Schmidt, CEO, 6i-communication
The benefits of having a compassionate team
When it comes to working, nothing beats the feeling of compassion. It is because compassion is understanding and caring for others that leads to the expression of compassion in the workplace. It benefits team members on many levels. For starters, they are more engaged and productive because they feel supported by their peers. It also leads to improved communication and teamwork.
In addition to this, a compassionate team understands and empathizes with others. It creates a supportive and caring environment where empathy is encouraged and celebrated. So, if compassionate work is what you’re looking for, start by creating an environment that fosters it, and the benefits will follow!
Monica Worline and Jane Dutton talk about emotional intelligence and empathy with co-workers in their book “Awakening Compassion.” In the book, Monica Worline and Jane Dutton present detailed blueprints for bringing about compassionate leadership. Some stories will help you understand the theories of compassion in the workplace.
“Awakening compassion”
by Monica C. Worline and Jane E. Dutton.
This book is a must-own for every team. You can explore the book here for a discounted price.
10 ways to foster compassion in your workplace
It’s no secret that acts of compassion in the workplace lead to a great place to work. Studies have shown that compassionate workplaces are more productive and profitable than those without empathy. It creates an atmosphere of safety and reduces the suffering of others.
It leads to job satisfaction, better job security, low burnout, and the employees feeling part of a team. So, in short, compassion matters.
But how do you go about fostering compassion in your workplace? Here are 10 ways:
- Encourage team membership and collaboration.
Encouraging team membership and collaboration is essential if you want your team to function at its best. It goes a long way in boosting morale, productivity, and creativity. Designate a team member to be a compassionate leader. This person can help lead by example and facilitate communication between team members.
- Foster an appreciation for diversity.
Fostering an appreciation for diversity is crucial in building a workplace culture that encourages creativity and innovation. Start by creating a safe and accepting environment where employees feel free to express their ideas. It will help reduce the fear of speaking up and airing grievances, promoting collaboration instead. It helps build psychological safety among co-workers.
Furthermore, encouraging open communication with team members – will help them develop trustworthy relationships essential for success. Next, ensure genuine interest in their lives outside work – this builds loyalty and strengthens teamwork overall. Finally, validate employee ideas by praising them for their efforts rather than assigning blame or giving negative feedback. - Make it a priority.
Making emphatic work a priority does not mean sacrificing your well-being. On the contrary, compassionate work leads to a healthy balance that supports our psychological and physical health, creativity, and innovation.
Plus, emphatic work is more fulfilling in a team environment where everyone feels valued and appreciated. So be sure to create an open communication culture that encourages collaboration and values individual contributions – both big and small!
And finally, show gratitude for all the hard work employees put in by rewarding them with appreciation gifts or bonuses on top of their regular salaries. - Set the tone from the top.
As a leader, it is vital to encourage team collaboration. Do it by setting clear goals and ensuring everyone is aware of the progress.
You should also ensure to reward good performance while poor behavior is discouraged. Starting with the tone you set from the top will impact team behavior. - Reward good performance with compassion.
Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses. The best way is to recognize and appreciate these qualities of your team members in front of others, even if it is just a gesture. It will encourage team members to be more self-compassionate and compassionate towards others – leading to a strong sense of team spirit.
Making sure the workplace environment is conducive to open communication can help people work together harmoniously towards common goals. It leads to developing trust, which is essential for personal growth and organizational productivity. - Celebrate workplace successes together.
Giving thanks for successes is a powerful way to promote team morale and cultivate a culture of compassion. Do it by holding regular ‘appreciation events’ where everyone can share their thoughts and feelings about the success they’ve experienced.
The bottom line is all employees feel appreciated and motivated to put their best work forward! - Encourage open communication.
Encouraging open communication is the main ingredient of effective team management. By fostering a sense of community and promoting mutual respect, it becomes easier to solve problems and reach a consensus on the way forward.
Teams that work well together often have clear and concise goals. And, everyone understands what they must do to achieve these goals.
Furthermore, by encouraging dissenting voices, disagreements can be aired openly without fear of retribution or hurt feelings. It creates an environment of trust and understanding essential for team success. - Create a team culture of support.
A team culture of support fosters compassion and open communication. It means that everyone on the team feels supported and valued.
Team members who feel valued and supported are likely to put themselves out emotionally and physically. They’re also more likely to take care of others on the team with self-compassion. - Promote creativity and innovation
Encouraging creativity and innovation is essential for businesses to stay competitive in the present-day market. When you cultivate a positive environment, your employees will be more likely to generate new ideas.
Also, providing them with ample opportunities for recognition, praise and feedback will go a long way in bolstering their morale. In addition, offering flexible working hours can help employees take time off when they need it – which not only helps them recharge but also boosts productivity in the workplace overall! - Foster kindness and empathy among your employees.
Employees are the lifeblood of any business. And, you must foster the act of kindness among them. Start by ensuring that team-building exercises focus on compassion. It will help your employees build strong relationships with one another while also reducing conflict.
Encourage your team to get involved in charity work or volunteering – giving back to society is a great way to show gratitude for what you have. Additionally, ensure communication between managers and employees is open and regular for better understanding – this makes for a more harmonious workplace where everyone feels appreciated!
These are some of the simple gestures through compassionate action and emotional response to build strong professional relationships.
Educational Resources
Here is some training that you can explore in the comfort of your home.
CRM Salesforce for Beginners – Become an expert in CRM Salesforce by mastering concepts of CRM, its business implications and how Cloud computing is changing the way businesses use technology to engage with their customers.
Design Patterns Certification – Understand Design Patterns, to enhance your skills, aiming to be an efficient Software Architect and develop some highly scalable and maintainable applications.
Become an expert in Analytics for Retail Banks – Master the concepts of analytics lifecycle, data infrastructure, customer lifecycle, and digital trends while going through global retail banking case studies.
Mastering Git and GitHub – Master the concepts like Branches, Design and Git work flow by using Git Command Line, GitHub Desktop and SourceTree.
Certified Blockchain & Healthcare Professional – Master the art of building robust healthcare-based blockchain systems.
Become a Certified Blockchain Architect – Craft the guidelines and structure of the whole blockchain system.
Certified Blockchain & Law Professional – Gain an in-depth understanding of the Blockchain in legal processes.
Blockchain & Supply Chain Professional – Master the core concepts of implementing Blockchain in Supply Chain industry to solve large-scale problems.
Certified Blockchain & Finance Professional – Gain an in-depth understanding of the Blockchain technology in Finance.
Free Starter Kit
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Frequently Asked Questions
Some of the most common misunderstandings about compassionate work are that it’s emotional, laborious, and time-consuming.
However, compassionate work is quite simple. It’s simply working with kindness, understanding, and empathy.
When we’re kind to others, it shows them that we care about them and our interactions tend to be more positive and constructive. It can lead to team spirit, trust, better mental health, generosity, improved body language, mindfulness, and a better work environment.
In a world where digital noise surrounds us, compassionate workplaces are rare gems that can create real change in people’s lives.
For team ethos initiatives, it’s vital to measure their success using metrics and surveys. Some popular tools that help do this include the Employee Engagement Survey, 360-degree feedback, and Culture Audit.
Additionally, it is essential to note that not all metrics or surveys will work for every team – it’s crucial to consult with an expert if you want help designing a survey specifically for your team.
Reach out to the experts mentioned experts – they will help you design a survey.
– Gallup
– People Element
– TalentKeepers
– Beyond Feedback
– Harrison Assessments International
– Pathways at work
– Fidello
Conclusion
Did you know that compassion is one of the powerful tools you have at work? By being compassionate, you can build a strong team ethos that will help your business thrive. You now know the 10 ways to foster an emphatic team and experience the power of compassion in action.
So what are you waiting for? Start building a compassionate team today and see the positive effects for yourself!
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