El beneficio de la compasión en las organizaciones

Compassion is understood in Eastern traditions as the genuine desire to achieve happiness and freedom from suffering. In organizations, it can be defined as a process that involves the following elements: (1) noticing that suffering is present in an organization, (2) giving meaning to that suffering, understanding that it is part of a shared experience of humanity, (3) generate a feeling of empathic concern for the people who suffer, and (4) take measures to alleviate it. The practice of compassion in the workplace, often, is undervalued or not taken into account due to the work overload that both managers and employees suffer. The pressures of time and stress, financial difficulties and other organizational tensions make concerns about the needs and well-being of workers seem banal. Research reports that employees report feeling devalued, underdeveloped and dissatisfied with their job development. These are forms of suffering, so common and widespread in the workplace, that they are probably taken for granted. Different studies show how the implementation of compassion as part of the values of an organization makes employees improve their levels of personal well-being, are more careful and fulfilled with their work, improving the work climate, the ability of the group to take action important for organization and productivity. In this communication, these aspects will be explained in greater detail.