Self-compassion at work: A self-regulation perspective on its beneficial effects for work performance and wellbeing |
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Authors: | Remy E. Jennings Klodiana Lanaj You Jin (YJ) Kim |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Management, Warrington College of Business, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA;2. Department of Management, College of Business, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong |
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Abstract: | The work environment is fraught with complex demands, hardships, and challenges, highlighting the need to approach work with self-compassion each day. We propose that work self-compassion—a mindset of kindness, gentleness, and care toward oneself as an employee—may generate the resources and motivation needed for self-regulation at work. Drawing from integrated self-control theory (ISCT) and theory on self-compassion, we suggest that on days when employees hold a work self-compassionate mindset, they will exhibit greater work performance and wellbeing via enhanced resource capacity and motivation. In an experimental experience sampling study, we found that a work self-compassionate mindset reduced depletion and increased work self-esteem and thereby heightened daily work engagement and daily resilience. Consequently, employees made greater goal progress at work and experienced higher meaning in life. In a supplemental study, we show that state self-compassion at work is associated with unique variance in work outcomes beyond compassion received from coworkers. We discuss theoretical and practical implications for self-compassion in organizational contexts. |
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Keywords: | experience sampling goal progress meaning in life self-compassion self-regulation |
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