In search of copassion: Creating a novel concept to promote re-enchantment at work

Abstract

Re-enchantment taps well into the current zeitgeist: The rising focus on emotions and post-material values also in organizational context. Enchantment is deeply tied to socially generated emotions. Our aim is to develop the concept of copassion, referring to the process of responding to the positive emotion of a fellow human being. Concepts are crucial as they shape our understanding of the world. Our core claim is relating to our colleagues’ positive emotions not only enables and maintains but also fosters enchantment at work. In this article, by laying the ground by discussing enchantment and the theoretical framework of intersubjectivity, we will link copassion to the physiological and evolutionary basis of humans, as well as explore its conceptual neighbors. Finally, we will discuss intersubjectivity, and particularly mutual recognition, as well as the inseparability of compassion and copassion in human experience at work, and its implications to the study of enchantment. JEL CLASSIFICATION: M14 Corporate Culture, Diversity, Social Responsibility

Leading matters! Linking compassion and mindfulness in organizations through servant leadership

“…The insights provided by this study into the servant leader's approach to emotional healing will guide leaders in organizations to understand and practice the process of alleviating employee suffering so that a culture of compassion and mindfulness emerges and is sustained creating a sense of security in the organization. This approach goes in line with the call in the literature to humanizing workplaces and organizations (Black and Venture, 2017;Pessi et al, 2022). On the other hand, employees who perceive that their leaders exercise a servant leadership style, in which they show concern and interest in their needs and development, tend to be more mindful, and more focused on the present.…”

“…Despite the fact that emotions and feelings emerge in all workplaces, it is not always easy to incorporate humanistic view for managing organizations, particularly in highly competitive, hectic contexts. There is an increasing trend focused on the study of the human side of management, where feelings and emotions matter ( Çakıt et al, 2020 ; Pessi et al, 2022 ; Zhang et al, 2022 ; Ramachandran et al, 2023 ; Zhang et al, 2023 ). However, further research is urgently called for; We lack academic work understanding not only on emotions in organizations but also the ways in which emotions are part of our embeddedness in the social world ( Zhang et al, 2023 ), part of our existence, also at work.…”

Compassion—A key to innovation: What promotes and what prevents innovation in organizations?

“…The factors positively influencing employee innovativeness too-this article incorporates in compassion the novel concept of copassion: the co-innovative, co-creative side of compassionate relationships (Pessi et al, 2022). Copassion refers to an affirmative response to the joy of another.…”

“…It is rooted in the idea of shared humanity and intersubjectivity-but instead of focusing on sharing and alleviating pain and suffering, it focuses on advancing together, sharing success, enthusiasm, and inspiration (Kanov et al, 2004;Dutton et al, 2006;Miller, 2007;Jazaieri et al, 2012). Copassion, just like compassion too, also involves noticing, feeling, and acting, as well as sense-making (Pessi et al, 2022). This sister phenomenon of compassion is fundamental to innovation.…”

How to re-enchant workplaces and organizations? An introduction to the special issue

“…The last two papers by Griep et al (2021) and Pessi et al (2021) focus on enchantment as an internal process and how this process develops. Griep and colleagues, in their daily diary study, provide an illustrative view of how employees, who experience active emotions (regardless of whether they are positive or negative), may achieve a better person-job fit and feel re-enchanted.…”