Welcome to the Compassion 2.0 Podcast preview post! In this week’s new episode, host Lori Schwanbeck interviews compassion at work pioneers Jane Dutton and Monica Worline.
Jane E. Dutton, Ph.D., is the Robert L. Kahn Distinguished University Professor of Business Administration and Psychology at the Ross School of Business. She is a co-founder of the Center for Positive Organizations, and passionate about cultivating human flourishing at work. Her research focuses on compassion, job crafting, high quality connections, and meaning-making at work. She has written over 100 articles and published 13 books.
Monica C. Worline, Ph.D., is founder and CEO of EnlivenWork, an innovation organization that teaches businesses and others how to tap into courageous thinking, compassionate leadership, and the curiosity to bring their best work to life. She is a research scientist at Stanford University’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research (CCARE,) and Education and Executive Director of CompassionLab, the world’s leading research collaboratory focused on compassion at work. Monica holds a lectureship at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, and is affiliate faculty at the Center for Positive Organizations.
The two professors launched seminal research in the field, and bring deep expertise from decades of scholarship, teaching, and consulting. They generously share their insights and case studies to help us understand how to cultivate more compassion to the workplace in this first installment of the two-part interview.
Jane’s lived experience drew her to study what makes some organizations forces for healing while other organizations ignore employee suffering. When her family experienced a trauma, one organization she worked for contributed to healing, while another did not.
The duo defines compassion in organization as a four-part human experience that always unfolds in relation to suffering. The steps include noticing, interpreting generously, feeling, and finally taking action.
Which of the four elements are most challenging for us to do, and how might we inadvertently perpetuate more suffering? Tune in to discover the answers, and why they are different for individual humans and for institutions.
Jane and Monica also discuss the four key levers to imbed compassion in organizations at scale. Networks and social connections that carry emotion, information, and advice are fundamental. Culture matters, but is often hard to manipulate and slow to change. So focusing on roles and routines can have faster impact.
You’ll hear a remarkable case study about Louisville, Kentucky which has signed the Charter for Compassion, and is working to bring greater compassion to the population. Reimagining the role of bus drivers was a total game-changer, and you’ll be surprised at the result.
We are reminded that scaling does not need to cost a lot of money. However, it does require creative leadership and letting go of limiting beliefs.
We look forward to Part 2 of the conversation next week to hear more insights about the business case for compassion. You can find the Compassion 2.0 Podcast on your favorite podcast platform or listen on the Compassion2.org website. Please subscribe so you can be notified for the next episode with professors Monica Worline and Jane Dutton, authors of the brilliant Awakening Compassion at Work.