Awakening Compassion at Work audiobook cover - The Quiet Power That Elevates People and Organizations

Awakening Compassion at Work

The Quiet Power That Elevates People and Organizations

Monica C. Worline and Jane E. Dutton

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Categories:
Corporate CultureCommunication Skills

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Awakening Compassion at Work
The Business Case+
Recognizing Suffering+
Barriers to Compassion+
Cultivating Empathy+
Compassionate Action+
Organizational Culture+
Compassionate Leadership+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8
What did administrative science expert Kim Cameron and a post-9/11 Gallup poll reveal about compassionate companies?
  • A. They sacrifice short-term profits to maintain long-term public relations.
  • B. They experience higher employee productivity, motivation, and retention.
  • C. They require less management oversight and fewer human resources staff.
  • D. They avoid legal liabilities related to employee health and safety.
Question 2 of 8
How did Dr. Govindappa Venkataswamy's Aravind Eye hospitals demonstrate that compassion can be a source of business innovation?
  • A. By replacing human doctors with automated technology to reduce patient costs.
  • B. By relying exclusively on government grants instead of charging patient fees.
  • C. By forcing medical staff to work pro-bono shifts to build organizational character.
  • D. By offering free treatments, which built a reputation that successfully attracted wealthier, paying clients.
Question 3 of 8
According to the authors, what are the vital tools managers need to successfully spot and address employee suffering?
  • A. Inquiry and curiosity
  • B. Strict attendance tracking and performance reviews
  • C. Anonymous feedback forms and surveys
  • D. Mandatory psychological evaluations
Question 4 of 8
The book identifies three rapid mental 'appraisals' that can shut down compassion in the workplace. Which of the following is ONE of those harmful appraisals?
  • A. Assuming the suffering employee is secretly looking for a promotion.
  • B. Judging that the person is responsible for their own suffering.
  • C. Believing that suffering is a necessary part of professional character building.
  • D. Concluding that the company's HR department is already handling the issue.
Question 5 of 8
How does the book define 'cognitive empathy'?
  • A. Merely understanding and mirroring someone's emotional state.
  • B. Deliberately imagining yourself in someone else's perspective to figure out how best to help them.
  • C. Using data and analytics to predict when an employee will experience burnout.
  • D. Suppressing your own emotions so you can make rational, unbiased business decisions.
Question 6 of 8
Why do the authors compare showing compassion in the moment to being a jazz musician?
  • A. Because it requires years of formal, structured training to execute properly.
  • B. Because it is best done as a solo activity without management interference.
  • C. Because you often have to improvise your response to a situation in real time.
  • D. Because it should be a highly rehearsed performance to ensure it looks authentic.
Question 7 of 8
How did Midwest Billing actively engineer a culture of communal compassion among its employees?
  • A. By creating smaller sub-units and 'support pods' to assist with heavy workloads.
  • B. By offering large financial bonuses to the most compassionate workers.
  • C. By firing employees who did not score high on standardized empathy tests.
  • D. By mandating weekly group therapy sessions for all staff members.
Question 8 of 8
What unique approach did Pat Christen, CEO of HopeLab, take to support her employees' personal development?
  • A. She allowed employees to take unlimited paid time off whenever they felt stressed.
  • B. She provided funds for employees to learn anything that benefited them personally, rather than just company skills.
  • C. She personally mentored every employee on how to advance within the corporate hierarchy.
  • D. She eliminated all performance metrics so employees could work without pressure.

Awakening Compassion at Work — Full Chapter Overview

Awakening Compassion at Work Summary & Overview

Awakening Compassion at Work (2017) considers the role of compassion in the workplace. It demonstrates the methods individuals and organizations can use to develop a culture of empathy and compassion, and shows how individuals and companies alike can benefit from such an approach.

Who Should Listen to Awakening Compassion at Work?

  • Managers and leaders
  • Business psychologists
  • Overworked employees looking for a new company

About the Author: Monica C. Worline and Jane E. Dutton

Monica C. Worline is a research scientist at Stanford University’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education. She specializes in the psychology of compassion and altruism. She is also the CEO of EnlivenWork, a company that coaches businesses in the development of compassionate leadership.

Jane E. Dutton is a University Professor of Business Administration and Psychology at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan. She is a cofounder of the Ross School’s Center for Positive Organizations.

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