Compassion In Action
The countless benefits from compassion in the workplace range from healthy communication to physical and mental health improvements. Compassion opens the door for communication and also greatly relieves stress among employees. In an effort to bring a greater level of compassion into your workplace, try our three simple words outlined below.
Notice.
Although simple, taking notice of fellow employees’ moods and attitudes is essential and the first step in making your workplace environment more comfortable, inviting, and compassionate. When a fellow colleague is stressed or anxious, it is important to take notice and attempt to make an effort to make him/her feel safe and comfortable in the workplace. Something as simple as writing a nice card when someone is down, or offering an ear to listen, may make a world of change for your friend, colleague, or fellow employee.
Perspective.
Perspective is the act of putting yourself in someone else’s shoes in order to obtain a better understanding of how one is feeling or acting. Especially during times of unrelatable circumstances, perspective allows for the opportunity to effectively listen and provide advice, ultimately leading to a greater cognitive empathy. Furthermore, perspective will also allow for a much more authentic response which will motivate team members in many ways otherwise more difficult.
Action.
Compassion is shown through both words and actions. After taking notice and gaining perspective on the situation, taking action is the final step in making a change for the better. One rule that we always live by at The Barn is to offer assistance with other team projects while your workload is light. Taking action by assisting other team members with their work is such a small, yet powerful, gesture that tends to aid in stress relief as well as creating a bond among team members.
Bringing compassion into the workplace starts with having compassion for yourself. Take a peek at a few articles provided below in order to gain insight into several amazing suggestions on developing more compassion for both yourself, and the incredible teams surrounding you.
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_awaken_compassion_at_work
https://www.mindful.org/how-to-be-more-compassionate-at-work/