Developing self-compassion can help us respond more effectively to pressure, setbacks and the demands of working life, supporting wellbeing, resilience and more sustainable ways of working.
Creating Compassion provides evidence-based self-compassion development for individuals and organisations, including the research-informed Self-Compassion at Work Programme developed by Dr Amanda Super.
Self-compassion is about how we respond to ourselves when we experience difficulties, setbacks or challenges. It involves recognising when we are struggling and responding in a balanced and supportive way, rather than becoming caught in harsh self-criticism or judgement. In the workplace, this can help us respond more effectively to pressure, setbacks and difficult experiences.
Self-compassion consists of three core components:
Recognising what we are thinking and feeling in the present moment without judgement or becoming overwhelmed by our experience.
Being supportive and understanding towards ourselves when we are struggling, rather than responding with harsh self-criticism.
Recognising that difficulties, setbacks and mistakes are part of the shared human experience. We are not alone in finding things difficult.
Together, these three components provide a practical framework for responding to challenging experiences with greater awareness and perspective. In the workplace, this can support wellbeing, emotional regulation and the way we respond to ourselves and others when demands are high.
Working life can involve sustained pressure, uncertainty, setbacks and high expectations. When things are difficult, many of us respond by becoming more self-critical or simply pushing ourselves harder. Over time, this can affect our wellbeing, resilience and ability to work sustainably and effectively.
Self-compassion offers a different way of responding. It can help us manage stress, recover from setbacks and maintain perspective when faced with challenges, supporting our ability to continue functioning effectively in demanding environments.
Importantly, self-compassion is not about lowering standards, avoiding accountability or making excuses. Nor is it simply about ‘being kind to yourself’. It can help us acknowledge difficulties honestly, take responsibility where appropriate and respond constructively, rather than becoming overwhelmed by self-criticism.
How we relate to ourselves can also influence how we relate to other people. Developing self-compassion can support greater emotional regulation and help us respond to colleagues and others with greater patience, understanding and compassion, particularly when we are under pressure.
Self-compassion at work can support:
The Self-Compassion at Work Programme is underpinned by peer-reviewed research. A published randomised waitlist-control trial found significant improvements in self-compassion and mental wellbeing, with significant reductions in perceived stress and burnout.
The Self-Compassion at Work Programme is an evidence-based, fully online intervention designed to help people develop and apply self-compassion in their everyday working lives. It is self-guided, enabling participants to work through the programme in their own time and at their own pace.
Across four modules, participants learn about the science and practice of self-compassion and develop practical ways of bringing mindfulness, self-kindness and common humanity into their lives and work.
Approximately six hours of learning in total, completed flexibly and at the participant’s own pace.
The Self-Compassion at Work Programme comprises four modules covering the following areas:
Supporting workforce wellbeing is an ongoing challenge for organisations, particularly when employees are working under sustained pressure and experiencing high levels of stress and burnout. The Self-Compassion at Work Programme provides an evidence-based, practical and affordable way to respond.
Designed specifically for the workplace and supported by peer-reviewed research, the programme helps employees develop skills that strengthen wellbeing and resilience and reduce stress and burnout, supporting healthier, more sustainable and effective ways of working.
Its fully online, self-guided format enables organisations to extend support and make it available across teams, services and whole workforces. Volume licences provide an affordable and scalable way to embed evidence-based self-compassion within wider workforce health and wellbeing strategies.
£39.50 including VAT
Access to the complete online programme and supporting resources.
Following purchase, programme instructions, materials and access links will be sent automatically to the email address provided at checkout.
Explore a collection of free practical exercises designed to help you develop and apply self-compassion in everyday life and work.
Explore Free Self-Compassion ExercisesExplore the latest thinking on self-compassion at work, wellbeing and developing more sustainable ways of responding to the pressures and challenges of working life.
Professional development often begins by identifying what needs to change or improve. But development doesn’t always need to start from a deficit. In this Insight, I explore how understanding our strengths, values and aspirations, alongside what we might want to do differently, can create a more balanced foundation for learning and development.
Read Insight
Compassionate leadership is not about avoiding difficult conversations or difficult decisions. It is about having the courage to address what needs to be addressed while remaining kind, respectful and thoughtful. In this Insight, I explore the idea of compassionate directness and how self-compassion can help us communicate with greater clarity and intention when conversations are difficult.
Read Insight
When work is busy, it can be easy to keep pushing and tell ourselves we will slow down when things are quieter. Self-compassion offers a different approach: recognising when we are under pressure and creating opportunities to pause and recover. In this Insight, I explore why making space to recharge can support our wellbeing, effectiveness and ability to sustain performance over time.
Read InsightIf you are looking for an evidence-based, practical and affordable way to support workforce wellbeing at scale, I would be happy to discuss how the Self-Compassion at Work Programme could support your organisation and its people.
