Now more than ever we need to realize the importance of compassion and gratitude in not only our personal lives but also at work. What do these words mean in a work environment?  Are you able to show compassion to your fellow colleagues and still have bottom line results that make you smile?  Where and how does gratitude fit into the management structure?

As human beings we want to feel valued for the work we do.  An article in Fox Small Business News sites that given the choice, employees leave their job, due to a lack of appreciation.  Not necessarily money.  
So what does it mean to show compassion in the workplace? It is about attention, care and kindness towards your colleagues concerns.  Without getting "soft" in the workplace, compassion can show up in the following ways.

Mentoring Others.  Perhaps it is a new employee who needs your guidance on a project.  It is time and support that you share with others on how to dosomething that will make a difference. Often employees are afraid to admit that they don't know how to do something.  Provide a safe environment for learning. Show them how to do something versus what to do.

Attention to One's Needs. Be attuned to and notice what is going on with your employees.  Take the time to understand your employees needs both on a professional and personal level.  Many times it is one's personal life that impacts their work life?  Be open and have conversations.  Ask them, Where do they want to go in their career?  How can you as a Manager help them on their path to success.  Be curious and show interest.  

Treated Fairly. Employees who put the time in and work hard want to be treated fairly.  A kind word from management showing that their work is appreciated goes a long way.  Employees are not always "best friends" with their managers.  When a manager shows favoritism for an employee who is not pulling their weight, morale is affected.

Positive Engagement. Connect and create a positive team environment where there is support for one another.  Employees want to play on a winning team and feel part of a shared mission.  People thrive in a positive environment. Instead of pointing out what is wrong, start first with one to two positive statements.  Focus on what the employee is doing right and watch performance increase.  

Appreciation.  According to an article in the Houston Chronicle, 39% of employees polled, said that they wanted to quit their job when the work they did was not appreciated. Positive recognition and appreciation reinforces accomplishments and engages the employee to work harder.  A thank you for a being a good employee and part of the organization goes further than a mere pat on the back for a task accomplished.
Compassion is often forgotten but it is one of the key factors that is needed in an organization.  Return to the basics. Include compassion into your management style and remember it can show up in many forms.
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Colleen speaks, trains and coaches organizations and individuals on a New Way to Work.  Focusing on leadership and organizational effectiveness for greater performance impact in ones business and career.  Contact Colleen atwww.colleencassel.com, @colleencassel, [email protected]

You are working for a profitable company that excels in its industry. But something is not right.  Why is it you don't feel engaged and excited about your job?  Instead of excelling and loving your job, it is just a "job" and you continue to work for the company only because of the money.  What would it be like if you went to work each day and not only got the salary you deserve but you loved the job you were doing?  

Research has shown that when you match your personal values to the values of the Company there is synergy.  Employees are happier and more engaged.  The values of a Company underlie the purpose and drive to move forward.  The values are the  "Why" that make a difference.   They lead to impact and performance for employees.  

When business objectives become a personal matter, a closer connection is made.  Employees feel they are part of the bigger picture and have a reason to work hard and produce.  Remember,  both internally to their teammates and to the public.

So what values in a company make a difference for you? Is it strictly skill driven and hard work?  Or is it the right mix of both skills and developing and recognizing your people?

Ask yourself.  What values does your Company embrace?  Is it Collaboration, Trust and Communication?  Or is it Innovation, Drive and Intelligence?  What if your company had the right mix all six elements?
When there is Trust, employees feel safe. You understand the purpose and have a greater drive to see the company succeed.

With Collaboration, teams work together. Ideas are created and employees become part of the greater whole.  They know the work they are doing will make a difference.

With open Communication, people talk about what is important and what is needed in an organization.  With effective communication you tear down the walls to any misunderstandings and negativity that can foster when teams don't know the direction.

With Innovation, companies excel and strive to create new and better ideas.  It is with creativity that organizations continue to tweak and improve, to become a more profitable business.

Drive is what gets you up in the morning.  It is the desire to constantly succeed and move past what is in the way and not working.

Intelligence is always needed. But when the leader is intelligent, has strong people development skills and knows how to motivate and mentor others, there is a winning formula in an organization.
Thank you for reading! Do these values align with your organization? Please comment.
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Colleen speaks, trains and coaches organizations and individuals on creating greater performance impact in their business and career.  Introducing Mindfulness into the workplace to improve focus, resilience, productivity and organizational performance.  To learn more about how Mindfulness in the workplace can transform your Organization, contact me atwww.colleencassel.com, @colleencassel, [email protected]