The key human elements needed to build a compassionate workplace and why it matters to business
The only limitations are the ones we create
Often the biggest hurdle to achieving a compassionate workplace is our limited thinking when addressing changes to workplace culture. Leaders may believe that offering a wellbeing platform or a recognition solution to employees, will lead to more compassionate behaviours but technology by itself won’t achieve this.
In fact, it’s a combination of factors that delivers a caring workforce, leading to some organisations thriving more than others.
Nurturing compassion
It’s important to consider a number of key ‘human’ elements, which when combined with the right technology platforms, nurture a considerate and benevolent workforce. These include the following:
- Understanding purpose – Employees need to know what the organisational purpose is, feel connected to it, and understand how their specific work and role contributes to that purpose and therefore, how they are individually making a difference. When everyone is working towards the same purpose and goals, this brings people together.
- Developing connections – Leaders must focus on helping employees to connect with the organisation, their leaders and their colleagues. Building strong, positive connections creates a nurturing and supportive culture.
- Creating a sense of belonging - Employees who identify as “different” in some way suffer greater burnout, feel a lesser sense of belonging, and experience more instances of microaggressions, according to our 2021 Global Culture Report. So, ensuring people feel included and that they ‘fit in’ is crucial to creating a compassionate workplace.
- A focus on wellbeing – For employees to feel connected to their organisation and their colleagues, they must feel that the organisation cares for them as individuals. This means leaders checking in with their people regularly, appreciating their efforts, looking after their interests and supporting them through life’s highs and lows.
- Recognition - Organisations need to look closely at their recognition strategies—from career anniversaries to celebrating everyday achievements—and ensure each initiative supports a caring culture and positive employee experiences.
The benefits of a caring approach
An holistic approach to nurturing a caring workplace that incorporates all of the above is what leads to a team of people who feel appreciated with a greater sense of purpose and ‘belonging’. And this naturally leads to enhanced business performance. In fact, according to the O.C. Tanner 2021 Global Culture Report, organisations with inclusive cultures deliver dramatically better results. They are twice as likely to meet or exceed financial targets, six times more likely to be innovative and agile and eight times more likely to achieve better business outcomes!
Think compassion!
By positively impacting all aspects of an employee’s experience at work, from creating a sense of purpose through to how valued every individual feels, this helps to create a compassionate and inclusive organisation in which their people work together for the betterment of the business.
The author is Georgia Portwain, Employee and Engagement Strategist from O.C. Tanner Europe.
The article is provided by O.C. Tanner Europe.
Supplied by REBA Associate Member, O. C. Tanner
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