Author Archives: Wayne Baker

This entry is part 3 of 5 in the series CompassionHow do you react when you witness suffering?You probably feel warmth in your chest and a lump in your throat. Your heart rate goes down, and you become a bit gentlerready to comfort and support the sufferer. If you have these feelings and physical reactions, its because humans are hardwired for it, according to psychologist Dacher Keltner.Charles Darwin called sympathy the strongest of all human instincts. In Born to Be Good: Th... Continue reading at Our Values →

This entry is part 2 of 5 in the series CompassionCISCO John T. Chambers at The World Economic Forum. Photo by Michael Wuertenberg released for public use via Wikimedia Commons.Does compassion make business sense? I know that seems like a crass question. The case for compassion is a moral and human one. In business, however, many hard-nosed leaders dont see a place for compassion unless it makes sense in dollars and cents.So, does a lack of compassion cost a company? One... Continue reading at Our Values →

This entry is part 1 of 5 in the series CompassionClick the Greater Good Web logo, here, to take the online quiz on workplace compassion.KINDNESS is the #1 character strength in America, according to a global survey of 24 character strengths.But, what about the workplace? Often, kindness is reserved for family, friends, and community, while the workplace is cutthroat.Today, I’m giving you a free online quiz to see: Do you work in a cutthroat or a compassionate organization?Compassion i... Continue reading at Our Values →

This entry is part 5 of 5 in the series Pursuit of HappinessExpressing gratitude is the first happiness prescription that psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky gives her book, The How of Happiness. People who are consistently grateful are not only happier, but more energetic, hopeful, helpful, empathetic, forgiving, spiritual, and religious.The pursuit of happiness is our theme this week. Its one of the rights named in the U.S. Declaration of Independence. It is also one of the ten core Americ... Continue reading at Our Values →

George McGovern (right) in his prime with a friend.This week, columnist Terry Gallagher is writing the OurValues series … THESE DAYS, you can “unfriend” someone with a click.So, what does that mean for real friendship? Real friendship means more than just enjoying each other’s company, laughing at the same jokes, or being able to borrow someone’s lawn mower. Many of the people we call friends on Facebook are really something else: co-workers, associates, col... Continue reading at Our Values →