Employee retention, decreased stress, and improved health among others are benefits that have been proven to be associated with being a compassionate employer.

Compassion is intentional. It is within us and is a key to authentic living. Compassion is known to bring inner peace and wellness. It is the realization that what benefits the well-being of others can also be beneficial to us. Compassion when thought about is linked to empathy and kindness. 

What is Compassion?

Compassion can be thought of as a mental state of orientation towards suffering. It can also be said to be an act of sympathy towards others with desires to relieve or stop the suffering completely. By cultivating compassion, you can significantly change not just your organization but the world at large.

There are lots that go into being a compassionate person and there are habits that can be practiced to extend compassion to employees.

• Intention 

You have to be very intentional about being compassionate. Of course, practices such as unconditional loving-kindness, compassion, and motivation are intentional practices. They require choice, intention, inner desire, and purposeful practice. They cannot be practiced as an imposition from some figure of authority. Compassionate employers are intentional, showing attitudes of compassion to their employees.

• Honesty 

Employers can choose to keep to themselves the truth. They can pick what and what not to say but this is not the same for a compassionate employer. They tell the truth whether or not they are judged. They are honest with themselves likewise to other people. 

• Open-Mindedness

Leaders like John de Ruiter and Larry Page are always ready to learn and unlearn. Not imposing opinions or ideas to people. Being compassionate is to be open minded, to be fully aware that people will have different opinions and to be ready to accept theirs without exacting authority.

• Attentiveness

Of course, one who is open minded is attentive. Compassionate leaders like John de Ruiter are always in the habit of listening and not minding who the person is. 

• Recognizing Flaws 

An employer who is compassionate understands he is not without flaws and neither is anyone. He understands one can make mistakes and cannot be perfect.

• Forgive Easily

He recognizes that no one is perfect and everyone is different. He forgives shortcomings. A compassionate person is not someone that can be pushed around but he forgives easily. 

• Putting People First 

A compassionate person has the habit of putting people first. Compassionate people are always available to help. They understand that a leader is first a servant and this builds true leadership. 

Value Experiences Than Money

Studies indicate that spending money on getting life experiences makes people more satisfied than spending money on achieving material possessions. A compassionate person values making people happy and would gladly invest into giving more experiences to maintain happiness than get money just for himself. Just like its definition, a compassionate employer would rather want to alleviate employees’ pain than watch them suffer. Always ready to volunteer or help in any way he can.