Compassion, for More Human Companies

Beyond the development of know-how, some companies choose to integrate in their DNA the development of soft-skills, specifically the notions of compassion and goodwill. These notions make it possible to create better and stronger human relationships. How could your company benefit from these notions in the workplace?

Compassion & Relationships

Researchers have examined the practice of compassion in different times and spaces and have shown that this feeling changes how we perceive others, as well as how we see ourselves. This feeling also makes us revisit our conception of happiness. 

Furthermore, researchers also noted that the expression of compassion influence the way we look at life and its various situations.

Compassion changes the neuronal circuits that influence our brain and allow the transformation of our prime emotional state. 

But what is compassion? According to the Buddhist tradition, compassion can be defined by the desire to put an end to the sufferings of others and their causes. Based on the principle of interdependence, that is, the fact that we are all connected to each other, compassion is the bond that helps us create harmonious relationships first with ourselves, then with others.

Compassion & Judgment

Our perception of the world is formed from our experiences and beliefs. It is unique. To be able to practice compassion, it is essential to accept that others see and live things differently.

It’s important to be aware of the fact that every judgment made, whether it’s on ourselves or on others, always come from within us. 

Cultivating goodwill requires openness and forces us to put aside two counterproductive reactions, which are the pretentiousness that we know everything and that we are always right. 

Compassion requires a suspension of opinions on our peers, as well as on ourselves.

In her book " Self-compassion : The proven power of being kind to yourself " , psychologist Kristin Neff mentions that ceasing judgment is not only about ceasing self-criticism, but it is also about learning to comfort ourselves in failure or suffering. Judgment towards ourselves only brings sadness and culpability. 

By accepting the facts as they appear, without putting a positive or negative label on them and by remaining a spectator, it becomes possible to take a caring look towards those awkward situations.

Compassion & Mindfulness

The concept of mindfulness has existed for 2500 years. In the turn of the 1980s, with the craze of scientists for the concept, mindfulness was popularized for its benefits.

In short, the practice, that is being 100% attentive to our inner and outer environment, allows us to be aware of what surrounds us, and to observe the facts with curiosity, openness and goodwill.

To stop regularly and to observe with hindsight can be very beneficial, but are we doing it often enough? To practice mindfulness allows us to gain a whole new perspective and thus to better understand our reactions, dissatisfactions and moods. We often are too harsh and demanding with ourselves. We lack gentleness and goodness. 

Cultivating this virtue would perhaps make it possible to arrive at the end of the day less exhausted, more serene and less stressed, right?

Compassion & Work

According to renowned Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard, mindfulness is still too often presented to business leaders as only a tool to reduce stress and to increase concentration and efficiency. 

Of course, those benefits are proven. But according to Ricard, many other essential benefits would be worth mentioning, such as:

• Find more accuracy in decision-making processes ;
• Develop a better self-awareness ;
• Develop the habit of taking better care of any relationships.

So isn’t compassion the first step in promoting harmonious relationships and professional fulfillment in the workplace?