book

The Art of Compassionate Business

Name: The Art of Compassionate Business
Author: Bruno R. Cignacco
ISBN: 9780429639517

by Bruno R. Cignacco

February 2019

Intermediate to advanced

304 pages

12h 53m

English

Productivity Press

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Cover
Half-Title
Title
Copyright
Contents
Acknowledgements
Author
Prologue
1 Purpose and Mission
1.1 The Importance of a Business Mission1.2 Impact of a Well-Defined Mission1.2.1 A Mission is Intrinsically Loving1.2.2 A Mission Generates Engagement and Commitment1.2.3 A Mission Makes People More Proactive and Creative1.2.4 A Mission Balances Short-Term and Long-Term1.2.5 A Mission Produces Economic and Non-Economic Rewards1.2.6 A Business Mission Represents a Company’s Map of the World1.2.7 A Business Mission Is an Overarching Goal1.2.8 A Mission Is Inspirational and Meaningful1.2.9 A Mission Is Socially Caring1.3 Tips to Discover (and Rediscover) the Business MissionQuestions for Self-Reflection
2 Relentless Passion
2.1 Passion and Business2.2 Main Aspects of Passion2.2.1 Rational Aspect2.2.2 Emotional Aspect2.2.3 Pragmatic AspectQuestions for Self-Reflection

3 Prosperity Mindset
3.1 Business Mindset3.1.1 General Aspects of Mindset3.1.2 Mindset and Business Activities3.2 Scarcity Mindset3.2.1 The Looming Threat of Scarcity and Competition3.2.2 Competition and Scarcity of Resources in the Business World3.2.3 Fear, Competition, and Scarcity of Resources3.2.4 Other Characteristics of a Scarcity Mindset3.3 A Prosperity Mindset3.3.1 Importance of a Prosperity Mindset3.3.2 Positive Thinking Patterns3.3.2.1 Awareness of Regular Thinking Patterns3.3.2.2 Other Relevant Aspects Regarding Thinking Patterns3.3.2.3 Thoughts and Emotions3.3.3 Frequent Use of Positive Words3.3.3.1 Importance of Using Positive Language3.3.3.2 Other Aspects of Positive Language3.3.4 Positive PerceptionQuestions for Self-Reflection
4 Additional Aspects of a Prosperity Mindset
4.1 Ongoing Learning Attitude4.1.1 Knowledge and Learning4.1.2 Prosperity Mindset and Knowledge4.1.3 Relevant Aspects of the Learning Process4.1.4 Other Aspects of the Learning Process4.1.5 Other Relevant Aspects of a Learning Attitude4.2 Tolerance to Ambiguity and Uncertainty4.2.1 General Aspects of Uncertainty4.2.2 Companies’ Attitude before Uncertainty4.2.3 Mental Biases, Uncertainty, and Complexity4.2.4 Abundance Mindset and Uncertainty4.3 Orientation to Action4.3.1 Importance of an Action-Oriented Attitude4.3.2 Traits of Action-Focused Business People4.3.3 Continuous Action, Fear, and Growth4.3.4 Tips to Become More Action-OrientedQuestions for Self-Reflection
5 Love and Business Activities
5.1 Main Meanings of Love5.2 The Absence of Love in Business Activities5.3 Love Is the Opposite to Fear5.4 Business People’s Default Response5.5 Love Can Improve Business ActivitiesQuestions for Self-Reflection
6 Stakeholders and Love
6.1 How to Treat Different Stakeholders with Love6.2 Towards a Wider Definition of Love6.3 Main Reasons to Be More Loving with Stakeholders6.4 Main Aspects of a Loving Attitude to Stakeholders6.4.1 Mutual Satisfaction of Needs6.4.2 Other Aspects Regarding Needs’ Satisfaction6.4.3 The Overarching Need for Love6.4.3.1 Love Underpins All Other Needs6.4.3.2 Love Is Developing Affinity Bonds with Others6.4.3.3 Love Is Harmonising Relationships with Others6.4.3.4 Love Is Recognising and Validating Others6.4.3.5 Love Is Exploring Commonalities with Others6.4.3.6 Love Is Praising Others6.4.3.7 Love Is Acknowledging the Emotional Side of Others6.4.3.8 Love Is Respecting Others6.4.3.9 Love Is Having Positive Assumptions about Others6.4.3.10 Love Is Showing Compassion for Others6.4.3.11 Love Is Acting with Integrity with Others6.4.3.12 Love Is Expressing Creativity6.5 Some Interesting Perspectives about Relationships with Stakeholders6.5.1 Bank Account Approach6.5.2 Substance over Form6.5.3 Vulnerable Beings6.5.4 Interdependence and InterconnectednessQuestions for Self-Reflection
7 Loving Ways to Relate to Stakeholders
7.1 Generosity7.1.1 Generosity, Abundance, and Stakeholders7.1.2 Generosity and Business Activities7.1.3 Generosity and Corporate Social Responsibility7.1.4 Different Types of Gifts7.1.5 Generosity and Employees7.2 Gratefulness7.2.1 Importance of Gratitude for Stakeholders7.2.2 Practical Aspects of a Thankful Attitude toward Others7.2.3 Ungratefulness and Its Negative Effects7.2.4 Appreciative Inquiry7.3 Collaboration7.3.1 Competition and Collaboration7.3.2 Other Aspects of Co-Operation7.3.3 Co-Operation within the Company7.4 Forgiving Attitude7.4.1 Effects of a Lack of Forgiveness7.4.2 Meaning of Forgiveness7.4.3 Resolving Misunderstandings Promptly7.5 Fun, Playfulness and Humour7.5.1 What Is Not Playfulness7.5.2 Importance of Playfulness7.5.3 Playfulness and Stakeholders7.5.4 Playfulness and Laughing7.5.5 SmilingQuestions for Self-Reflection
8 Natural Conversations with Stakeholders
8.1 The Need for More Natural Conversations8.2 Business Formalities and Natural Conversations8.3 Assumptions in Business Conversations8.4 Connecting to Employees in a Natural Way8.5 Emotions in Business Conversations8.6 Goal-Setting and Natural Conversations8.7 Natural Conversations and Mutual Exploration8.8 Natural Conversations and Comfort8.9 Natural Conversations and Active Listening8.10 Other Aspects of Active Listening8.11 Active Listening, Paraphrasing, Analogies, and Recaps8.12 Natural Conversations and Co-Operation8.13 Natural Conversations and Learning8.14 Natural Conversations and Meaning8.15 Natural Conversations, Inclusiveness, and Empathy8.16 Natural Conversations and Free Expression8.17 Clarity in Natural Conversations8.18 Body Language and Natural Conversations8.19 Body Language, Emotions, and Synchronicity8.20 Natural Business ConversationsQuestions for Self-Reflection
9 The Use of Positive Language with Stakeholders
9.1 The Importance of Words for Communication Purposes9.2 Detrimental Impact of Negative Words9.3 The Power of Using Positive Language9.4 Positive Vocabulary and Criticism9.5 A Positive Way to Deliver Criticism9.5.1 Positive Wording9.5.2 Behaviour-Oriented9.5.3 Change-Oriented9.5.4 Other Aspects Related to FeedbackQuestions for Self-Reflection
10 Adopting a Loving Attitude toward Employees
10.1 Main Aspects of a Company’s Work Environment10.2 Limiting Factors in the Work Environment10.2.1 Organisational Structure10.2.2 Company’s Planning Processes10.2.3 Company’s Rules and Procedures10.2.4 The Organisation’s Politics10.2.5 Division of Labour10.2.6 Fast-Paced Environment10.3 Other Aspects Preventing Employees’ Full Expression10.3.1 Widespread Collective Activities10.3.2 Prevalence of Company’s Values10.3.3 Resistance to Change10.3.4 Perceived Limited Resources10.3.5 Over-Reliance on External Factors10.3.6 Over-Emphasis on Rational Aspects10.3.7 Other Aspects10.4 Nurturing Relationships with Employees10.4.1 Warm Work Environment10.4.1.1 Main Characteristics of a Positive Work Environment10.4.1.2 Main Characteristics of a Positive Work Environment10.4.1.3 Positive Layout of the Workplace10.4.2 Diverse, Inclusive, and Participative Workplace10.4.2.1 The Importance of a Diverse and Inclusive Environment10.4.2.2 Employees’ Participation and Acknowledgement10.4.3 Social Activities10.4.3.1 Importance of Social Activities10.4.3.2 Importance of Social Activities and Events10.4.3.3 A Different Standpoint in Social Events10.4.4 Time OffQuestions for Self-Reflection
11 Additional Aspects of a Loving Attitude to Employees
11.1 Relationships between Superiors and Subordinates11.2 Guidelines for More Balanced Relationships with Employees11.2.1 Treat Employees Kindly11.2.2 Provide Employees with Care11.2.3 Support during a Company’s Challenging Times11.2.4 Allow Employees to Express Their Views11.2.5 Delegation of Tasks11.2.6 Harnessing Employees’ Skills11.2.7 Developing New Skills11.2.8 Friendly Assessment Process11.2.9 Supportive Feedback11.2.10 Appreciation of Employees’ ContributionQuestions for Self-Reflection
12 Adopting a Loving Attitude toward Customers
12.1 Love and Customers12.2 Importance of Customers’ Wellbeing12.3 Main Qualities of a Loving Attitude toward Customers12.3.1 Over-Performing12.3.2 Trustworthiness12.3.3 Attitude of Service12.3.4 A Sharing Attitude12.3.5 Spontaneous Approach12.3.6 Full Connection12.3.7 Soft-Touch Approach12.3.8 Transparency12.3.9 Openness12.3.10 Specific Approach12.3.11 Segmentation and Uniqueness12.3.12 Emotional Enhancement12.3.13 Warm Appreciation12.3.14 Welcoming Feedback12.3.15 Story-TellingQuestions for Self-Reflection
13 Adopting a Loving Attitude toward Other Stakeholders
13.1 Suppliers and Intermediaries13.1.1 Continuous Communication13.1.2 Unselfishness13.1.3 Respecting Commitments13.1.4 Soft Conflict-Solving13.1.5 Co-Operative Attitude13.2 Competitors13.2.1 Love and Competitors13.2.2 A More Positive Approach Regarding Other Companies13.3 Communities13.3.1 Relevance of Communities13.3.2 Community-Oriented Activities13.3.3 Other Aspects Related to CommunitiesQuestions for Self-Reflection
14 Love and Creativity
14.1 Meaning of Creativity14.2 How Creativity Works14.3 Characteristics of People Who Create14.4 Business Objectives and Creativity14.5 Main Hindrances to Creativity14.6 Traditional Creative Tools14.6.1 Mind-Mapping14.6.2 Drawing14.6.3 New Viewpoints14.6.4 What If Method14.6.5 Benchmarking and Analogies14.6.6 Brainstorming14.6.7 Disney Strategy14.6.8 SCAMPER14.6.9 Use of External Words14.6.10 Framing14.7 Additional Comments on CreativityQuestions for Self-Reflection
15 Additional Aspects of Love and Creativity
15.1 Creating is Also Asking New Questions15.1.1 Importance of Questions15.1.2 Examples of Useful Questions15.2 Non-Traditional Tools for Creativity15.2.1 Meditation15.2.2 Development of Intuition15.2.2.1 Contact with Nature15.2.2.2 Asking Questions15.2.2.3 Delving into the Issue15.2.2.4 Being Calm15.2.2.5 Being in the Present15.3 Selection of Creative Ideas15.4 Innovation and Creativity15.4.1 Main Aspects of Innovation15.5 Tips for Companies to Enhance Their Creative Resources15.5.1 Declaration of Innovation15.5.2 Creative Time and Spaces15.5.3 Creative Meetings15.5.4 Fun Activities15.5.5 Avoid Groupthink15.5.6 Record of Brilliant Ideas15.5.7 Ideas Incubators15.5.8 Reward Creativity15.5.9 A More Loving Environment15.5.10 Creative Brief15.5.11 Open Feedback15.5.12 Embed Creative Techniques during Worktime15.5.13 Opportunities Audit15.5.14 Continuous Improvement Quality15.5.15 Encourage Collective Creative Activities15.5.16 Creativity Audit15.5.17 Innovation Goals15.5.18 Attributes Assessment15.5.19 Premortem AssessmentQuestions for Self-Reflection
Appendix A: Stress and Business Activities
Appendix B: Mindfulness and Business
Appendix C: Marketing and Manipulation
Appendix D: System Thinking and Organisations
Appendix E: Compassionate Negotiation
Appendix F: Empathetic Use of Social Media
Appendix G: Additional Ways to Generate Intuitive Insights
Bibliography
Index

Content preview from The Art of Compassionate Business

Acknowledgements

This book is dedicated to the memory of my mother, who was the person who first introduced me to the principles which have deeply influenced this book. This text is also dedicated to the memory of my uncle Hugo Francesconi, for his continuous support and faith in me.

I am also deeply grateful to:

■ Fayola Saunders, a very sweet and special person in my life who showed great enthusiasm in reviewing the manuscriptMy father, my sister, my nieces, and my godson

■ My friends

■ My clients

■ The educational institutions I have taught at over my career

■ The people working for the publisher for their significant support during the publishing process

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The Art of Compassionate Business

by Bruno R. Cignacco

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