Why leading with compassion pays off

The message is clear business owners, boards and leaders need to fundamentally change the ways that we manage and communicate with our people. If we don’t we will fail in optimising the return on investment in people and minimising risks arising from psychosocial hazards and gender-based behaviours. This includes doing what is best for their own wellbeing…and a key element to all of that is the practice of compassion in leadership (for others) and in reflection (for self). Well, guess what? Science tells us that it is good for us and our businesses. 

What is compassionate leadership?

Let’s start with making a distinction between “empathy” and “compassion”

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

Compassion is being empathetic and then wanting to do something about it.

Applying SCARF to psychosocial hazards

Here are five questions that you could ask relating each of the 5 SCARF elements to one psychosocial hazard:

• Do reward and recognition practices support people in having a clear and valued perception of their STATUS in the organisation?  Hazard: inadequate reward and recognition
• Does everyone in your organisation have CERTAINTY about organisational goals and their roles and performance expectations? Hazard: lack of role clarity
• Is everyone free from micromanagement and feel like they have the AUTONOMY to perform their role and make related decisions without unnecessary supervision or review? Hazard: poor supervisor support
• Do people feel like they are valued members of teams and get a sense of belonging and RELATEDNESS from the way that people work together? Hazard: poor workplace relationships
• Do people trust the organisation and managers to treat everyone with respect and FAIRNESS on any matter in the workplace? Hazard: Poor organisational justice

There are lots of other ways that you can use the SCARF model in the workplace and elsewhere in life. Use it as a barometer for how you respond to a challenge – as a threat or as a reward. The mindset that you adopt can make a massive difference to your own mental health and wellbeing.

If you would like to explore any of our PosWork programs for your workplace, please call us on 1300 108 488 or email info@poswork.com.au.