If your workplace relies on people constantly giving more than they have, kindness alone won't make it sustainable.
We often talk about building caring workplaces.
We encourage people to check in with colleagues, look out for one another, demonstrate empathy and offer support.
These are important behaviours.
But there's a question organisations also need to ask.
Are we creating working conditions that make care possible?
Because asking people to be more compassionate while they're overwhelmed, overstretched and emotionally exhausted can become another demand.
And that's where we need to think differently.
A caring culture is not simply about how individuals treat one another.
It's also about how work is organised, expectations are communicated and responsibilities are shared.
Three levels of care
1. Care for yourself
Recognising your capacity, communicating your needs, taking breaks where possible and establishing appropriate boundaries.
You can care about your colleagues without making yourself permanently available.
2. Care for one another
Listening, acknowledging contributions, offering help and treating people with respect.
Sometimes compassion is a conversation. Sometimes it's practical support. And sometimes it's giving someone space.
3. Care through how we work
This is the part organisations sometimes overlook.
Are workloads realistic?
Are responsibilities clear?
Do people have the information and resources they need?
Can concerns be raised and addressed?
Do managers understand the pressures their teams are experiencing?
Because no amount of positive thinking, wellbeing activities or individual resilience can fully compensate for consistently unhealthy working conditions.
This is also where Inclusive High Performance comes in.
At High Fifteen, we consider three connected dimensions:
Direction: People understand the priorities, expectations and decisions.
Dynamics: People experience trust, respect, inclusion and constructive relationships.
Durability: Performance is supported by realistic capacity, sustainable working practices and opportunities to recover.
When we pay attention to all three, we're better placed to support both people and results.
A thought to take away: Sustainable compassion isn't about asking people to care more. It's about creating the conditions that allow care and performance to coexist.
Light,
Vanessa ⭐️
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