Creating value with compassion
Photo by Reuben Juarez on Unsplash
The way the lay-offs in well-known tech companies have been reported shows how much value there is in baking empathy and compassion into the way you do things in your organization. Companies that have shown care for the people directly affected by the decisions the business has taken are described as responsible businesses who treat people respectfully. They will still be considered a good place to work over the long term. Their brand value is intact.
Contrast that with certain other companies who have treated employees as disposable resources, questioning their contribution, their motivation and commitment. Even if this was intended to reduce staff without having to pay for it, it will only save some settlement cost. The damage to the reputation of the organization as an attractive employer is done.
Empathy and compassion absolutely have hard value. No doubt about it. The way you treat people and the way you feel treated matter. You know they do from personal experience. Maya Angelou famously said it: "People will not remember what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel." What would make the work environment any different? We don't stop being human beings when we show up for work. We still want to feel that we make a difference with our work, that we are valued for who we are and what we bring, that we belong in this tribe. When we have that we tap into our own intrinsic motivation, which gives us a sense of creating meaning and purpose with our work. That makes us give our best, which ultimately means we create the most value for the business.
Engaging with the people behind the roles they perform at work makes good business sense. Cultivating relationships at work generates real value in a knowledge business. Friction between people diminishes results. Leaders can play a pivotal role in easing such friction and helping people work together effectively. It is possibly the most impactful role you can play. Don't shy away from "the soft stuff" - there is nothing soft about it. It does have hard value, and it can be tough to do it well. Do make it your business. Know what you do well, apply it generously, and start working on getting better at just one thing that would make a significant impact if you were more confident with it. You can do this.
Get in touch if you’d like some help figuring out what you can do to be a compassionate leader and effective relationship builder.
