The Art of Compassionate Business, 2nd Edition

The Art of Compassionate Business, 2nd Edition

by Bruno R. Cignacco
Released December 2023
Publisher(s): Productivity Press
ISBN: 9781000998047

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Book description

The 2nd Edition of this book challenges the reader to change the way they perform in business situations and become more focused on the human aspects of business activities. The users of this knowledge and those affected by them will undergo a profound transformation in the way they perform business activities.

Table of contents

  1. Cover Page
  2. Half-Title Page
  3. Title Page
  4. Copyright Page
  5. Contents
  6. Acknowledgements
  7. Prologue
  8. Brief Notes to the Second Edition
  9. Section I Mission, Passion, and Prosperity Mindset
    1. 1 Importance of a Meaningful Mission
      1. 1.1 Importance of a Business Mission
      2. 1.2 Impact of a Well-Defined Mission
        1. 1.2.1 A Mission Is Intrinsically Loving
        2. 1.2.2 A Mission Generates Engagement and Commitment
        3. 1.2.3 A Mission Makes People More Proactive and Creative
        4. 1.2.4 A Mission Balances Short-Term and Long-Term
        5. 1.2.5 A Mission Produces Economic and Non-Economic Rewards
        6. 1.2.6 A Business Mission Represents a Company’s Map of the World
        7. 1.2.7 A Business Mission Is an Overarching Goal
        8. 1.2.8 A Mission Is Inspirational and Meaningful
        9. 1.2.9 A Mission Is Socially Caring
      3. 1.3 Tips to Discover (and Rediscover) the Business Mission
    2. 2 Relentless Passion
      1. 2.1 Passion and Business
      2. 2.2 Main Aspects of Passion
        1. 2.2.1 Rational Aspect
        2. 2.2.2 Emotional Aspect
        3. 2.2.3 Pragmatic Aspect
    3. 3 Prosperity Mindset
      1. 3.1 Business Mindset
        1. 3.1.1 General Aspects of Mindset
        2. 3.1.2 Mindset and Business Activities
      2. 3.2 Scarcity Mindset
        1. 3.2.1 The Looming Threat of Scarcity and Competition
        2. 3.2.2 Competition and Scarcity of Resources in the Business World
        3. 3.2.3 Fear, Competition, and Scarcity of Resources
        4. 3.2.4 Other Characteristics of a Scarcity Mindset
      3. 3.3 A Prosperity Mindset
        1. 3.3.1 Importance of a Prosperity Mindset
        2. 3.3.2 Positive Thinking Patterns
        3. 3.3.3 Frequent Use of Positive Words
        4. 3.3.4 Positive Perception
    4. 4 Additional Aspects of a Prosperity Mindset
      1. 4.1 Ongoing Learning Attitude
        1. 4.1.1 Knowledge and Learning
        2. 4.1.2 Prosperity Mindset and Knowledge
        3. 4.1.3 Relevant Aspects of the Learning Process
        4. 4.1.4 Other Aspects of the Learning Process
        5. 4.1.5 Other Relevant Aspects of a Learning Attitude
      2. 4.2 Tolerance to Ambiguity and Uncertainty
        1. 4.2.1 General Aspects of Uncertainty
        2. 4.2.2 Companies’ Attitude before Uncertainty
        3. 4.2.3 Mental Biases, Uncertainty, and Complexity
        4. 4.2.4 Abundance Mindset and Uncertainty
      3. 4.3 Orientation to Action
        1. 4.3.1 Importance of an Action-Oriented Attitude
        2. 4.3.2 Traits of Action-Focused Business People
        3. 4.3.3 Continuous Action, Fear, and Growth
        4. 4.3.4 Tips to Become More Action-Oriented
  10. Section II General Aspects of Love and Business
    1. 5 Love and Business Activities
      1. 5.1 Main Meanings of Love
      2. 5.2 The Absence of Love in Business Activities
      3. 5.3 Love Is the Opposite to Fear
      4. 5.4 Business People’s Default Response
      5. 5.5 Love Can Improve Business Activities
    2. 6 Stakeholders and Love
      1. 6.1 How to Treat Different Stakeholders with Love
      2. 6.2 Towards a Wider Definition of Love
      3. 6.3 Main Reasons to Be More Loving with Stakeholders
      4. 6.4 Main Aspects of a Loving Attitude to Stakeholders
        1. 6.4.1 Mutual Satisfaction of Needs
        2. 6.4.2 Other Aspects Regarding Needs’ Satisfaction
        3. 6.4.3 The Overarching Need for Love
      5. 6.5 Some Interesting Perspectives about Relationships with Stakeholders
        1. 6.5.1 Bank Account Approach
        2. 6.5.2 Substance over Form
        3. 6.5.3 Vulnerable Beings
        4. 6.5.4 Interdependence and Interconnectedness
    3. 7 Loving Ways to Relate to Stakeholders
      1. 7.1 Generosity
        1. 7.1.1 Generosity, Abundance, and Stakeholders
        2. 7.1.2 Generosity and Business Activities
        3. 7.1.3 Generosity and Corporate Social Responsibility
        4. 7.1.4 Different Types of Gifts
        5. 7.1.5 Generosity and Employees
      2. 7.2 Gratefulness
        1. 7.2.1 Importance of Gratitude for Stakeholders
        2. 7.2.2 Practical Aspects of a Thankful Attitude towards Others
        3. 7.2.3 Ungratefulness and Its Negative Effects
        4. 7.2.4 Appreciative Inquiry
      3. 7.3 Collaboration
        1. 7.3.1 Competition and Collaboration
        2. 7.3.2 Other Aspects of Co-Operation
        3. 7.3.3 Co-Operation within the Company
      4. 7.4 Forgiving Attitude
        1. 7.4.1 Effects of a Lack of Forgiveness
        2. 7.4.2 Meaning of Forgiveness
        3. 7.4.3 Resolving Misunderstandings Promptly
      5. 7.5 Fun, Playfulness, and Humour
        1. 7.5.1 What Is Not Playfulness
        2. 7.5.2 Importance of Playfulness
        3. 7.5.3 Playfulness and Stakeholders
        4. 7.5.4 Playfulness and Laughing
        5. 7.5.5 Smiling
    4. 8 Natural Conversations with Stakeholders
      1. 8.1 The Need for More Natural Conversations
      2. 8.2 Business Formalities and Natural Conversations
      3. 8.3 Assumptions in Business Conversations
      4. 8.4 Connecting to Employees in a Natural Way
      5. 8.5 Emotions in Business Conversations
      6. 8.6 Goal-Setting and Natural Conversations
      7. 8.7 Natural Conversations and Mutual Exploration
      8. 8.8 Natural Conversations and Comfort
      9. 8.9 Natural Conversations and Active Listening
      10. 8.10 Other Aspects of Active Listening
      11. 8.11 Active Listening, Paraphrasing, Analogies, and Recaps
      12. 8.12 Natural Conversations and Co-Operation
      13. 8.13 Natural Conversations and Learning
      14. 8.14 Natural Conversations and Meaning
      15. 8.15 Natural Conversations, Inclusiveness, and Empathy
      16. 8.16 Natural Conversations and Free Expression
      17. 8.17 Clarity in Natural Conversations
      18. 8.18 Body Language and Natural Conversations
      19. 8.19 Body Language, Emotions, and Synchronicity
      20. 8.20 Natural Business Conversations
    5. 9 The Use of Positive Language with Stakeholders
      1. 9.1 The Importance of Words for Communication Purposes
      2. 9.2 Detrimental Impact of Negative Words
      3. 9.3 The Power of Using Positive Language
      4. 9.4 Positive Vocabulary and Criticism
      5. 9.5 A Positive Way to Deliver Criticism
        1. 9.5.1 Positive Wording
        2. 9.5.2 Behaviour-Oriented
        3. 9.5.3 Change-Oriented
        4. 9.5.4 Other Aspects Related to Feedback
  11. Section III Love and Specific Stakeholders
    1. 10 Adopting a Loving Attitude towards Employees
      1. 10.1 Main Aspects of a Company’s Work Environment
      2. 10.2 Limiting Factors in the Work Environment
        1. 10.2.1 Organisational Structure
        2. 10.2.2 A Company’s Planning Processes
        3. 10.2.3 A Company’s Rules and Procedures
        4. 10.2.4 The Organisation’s Politics
        5. 10.2.5 Division of Labour
        6. 10.2.6 Fast-Paced Environment
      3. 10.3 Other Aspects Preventing Employees’ Full Expression
        1. 10.3.1 Widespread Collective Activities
        2. 10.3.2 Prevalence of Company’s Values
        3. 10.3.3 Resistance to Change
        4. 10.3.4 Perceived Limited Resources
        5. 10.3.5 Over-Reliance on External Factors
        6. 10.3.6 Over-Emphasis on Rational Aspects
        7. 10.3.7 Other Aspects
      4. 10.4 Nurturing Relationships with Employees
        1. 10.4.1 Warm Work Environment
        2. 10.4.2 Diverse, Inclusive, and Participative Workplace
        3. 10.4.3 Social Activities
        4. 10.4.4 Time Off
    2. 11 Additional Aspects of a Loving Attitude to Employees
      1. 11.1 Relationships between Superiors and Subordinates
      2. 11.2 Guidelines for More Balanced Relationships with Employees
        1. 11.2.1 Treating Employees Kindly
        2. 11.2.2 Providing Employees with Care
        3. 11.2.3 Supporting Employees during Challenging Times
        4. 11.2.4 Allowing Employees to Express Their Views
        5. 11.2.5 Delegation of Tasks
        6. 11.2.6 Harnessing Employees’ Skills
        7. 11.2.7 Developing New Skills
        8. 11.2.8 Friendly Assessment Process
        9. 11.2.9 Supportive Feedback
        10. 11.2.10 Appreciation of Employees’ Contribution
    3. 12 Adopting a Loving Attitude towards Customers
      1. 12.1 Love and Customers
      2. 12.2 Importance of Customers’ Well-Being
      3. 12.3 Main Qualities of a Loving Attitude towards Customers
        1. 12.3.1 Over-Performing
        2. 12.3.2 Trustworthiness
        3. 12.3.3 Attitude of Service
        4. 12.3.4 A Sharing Attitude
        5. 12.3.5 Spontaneous Approach
        6. 12.3.6 Full Connection
        7. 12.3.7 Soft-Touch Approach
        8. 12.3.8 Transparency
        9. 12.3.9 Openness
        10. 12.3.10 Specific Approach
        11. 12.3.11 Segmentation and Uniqueness
        12. 12.3.12 Emotional Enhancement
        13. 12.3.13 Warm Appreciation
        14. 12.3.14 Welcoming Feedback
        15. 12.3.15 Story-Telling
    4. 13 Adopting a Loving Attitude towards Other Stakeholders
      1. 13.1 Suppliers and Intermediaries
        1. 13.1.1 Continuous Communication
        2. 13.1.2 Unselfishness
        3. 13.1.3 Respecting Commitments
        4. 13.1.4 Soft Conflict-Solving
        5. 13.1.5 Co-Operative Attitude
      2. 13.2 Competitors
        1. 13.2.1 Love and Competitors
        2. 13.2.2 A More Positive Approach Regarding Other Companies
      3. 13.3 Communities
        1. 13.3.1 Relevance of Communities
        2. 13.3.2 Community-Oriented Activities
        3. 13.3.3 Other Aspects Related to Communities
  12. Section IV Main Aspects of Love and Creativity
    1. 14 Love and Creativity
      1. 14.1 Meaning of Creativity
      2. 14.2 How Creativity Works
      3. 14.3 Characteristics of People Who Create
      4. 14.4 Business Objectives and Creativity
      5. 14.5 Main Hindrances to Creativity
      6. 14.6 Traditional Creative Tools
        1. 14.6.1 Mind-Mapping
        2. 14.6.2 Drawing
        3. 14.6.3 New Viewpoints
        4. 14.6.4 What If Method
        5. 14.6.5 Benchmarking and Analogies
        6. 14.6.6 Brainstorming
        7. 14.6.7 Disney Strategy
        8. 14.6.8 Scamper
        9. 14.6.9 Use of External Words
        10. 14.6.10 Framing
      7. 14.7 Additional Comments on Creativity
    2. 15 Additional Aspects of Love and Creativity
      1. 15.1 Creating Is Asking New Questions
        1. 15.1.1 Importance of Questions
        2. 15.1.2 Examples of Useful Questions
      2. 15.2 Non-Traditional Tools for Creativity
        1. 15.2.1 Meditation
        2. 15.2.2 Development of Intuition
      3. 15.3 Selection of Creative Ideas
      4. 15.4 Innovation and Creativity
        1. 15.4.1 Main Aspects of Innovation
      5. 15.5 Tips for Companies to Enhance Their Creative Resources
        1. 15.5.1 Declaration of Innovation
        2. 15.5.2 Creative Time and Spaces
        3. 15.5.3 Creative Meetings
        4. 15.5.4 Fun Activities
        5. 15.5.5 Avoiding Groupthink
        6. 15.5.6 Records of Brilliant Ideas
        7. 15.5.7 Idea Incubators and Crowdsourcing
        8. 15.5.8 Rewarding Creativity
        9. 15.5.9 A More Loving Environment
        10. 15.5.10 Creative Brief
        11. 15.5.11 Open Feedback
        12. 15.5.12 Embedding Creative Techniques during Work Time
        13. 15.5.13 Opportunities Audit
        14. 15.5.14 Continuous Improvement Quality
        15. 15.5.15 Encouraging Collective Creative Activities
        16. 15.5.16 Creativity Audit
        17. 15.5.17 Innovation Goals
        18. 15.5.18 Attributes Assessment
        19. 15.5.19 Premortem Assessment
  13. Section V Appendices
    1. A Stress and Business Activities
      1. A.1 Self-Awareness
      2. A.2 Exercise and Other Activities
      3. A.3 Healthy Habits
      4. A.4 Alternative Activities
      5. A.5 Better Work Organisation
      6. A.6 Improved Discernment
      7. A.7 Social Aspects
      8. A.8 Other Aspects
    2. B Mindfulness and Business
    3. C Marketing and Manipulation
      1. C.1 Consumption and Consumerism
      2. C.2 Marketing Strategies and Manipulation
      3. C.3 Other Aspects of Marketing Strategies
    4. D System Thinking and Organisations
      1. D.1 Importance of Companies as Systems
      2. D.2 Main Characteristics of Companies as Systems
      3. D.3 Systems, Objectives, Decision-Making, and Environments
      4. D.4 Other Aspects of the Systemic Perspective
    5. E Compassionate Negotiation
      1. E.1 Conflicts and Organisations
      2. E.2 Importance of a Loving Attitude towards Conflicts
      3. E.3 Other Relevant Aspects to Be Considered
    6. F Empathetic Use of Social Media
      1. F.1 Main Characteristic of Social Media
      2. F.2 Companies and Social Media
      3. F.3 Other Aspects of Companies and Social Media
    7. G Additional Ways to Generate Intuitive Insights
      1. G.1 Setting Objectives
      2. G.2 Use of Envisioning
      3. G.3 Use of Positive Statements
    8. H Human-Oriented Leadership
      1. H.1 Empathetic Attitude
      2. H.2 Relationship-Building
      3. H.3 Open-Mindedness and Humility
  14. Bibliography
  15. Index

Product information

  • Title: The Art of Compassionate Business, 2nd Edition
  • Author(s): Bruno R. Cignacco
  • Release date: December 2023
  • Publisher(s): Productivity Press
  • ISBN: 9781000998047