In this edition of the Masterclasses of Managerial Excellence, we had the honor of welcoming Gaël Chatelain-Berry, author, speaker, and creator of the Happywork podcast, the most popular in France on workplace well-being. With his infectious energy and pragmatic vision, Gaël guided us through the keys to authentic management and practices that promote both performance and team well-being!
Compassionate Management: a Now Essential Concept
In 2016, Gaël published an article on LinkedIn titled “Management through compassion: the future of management”. This text, which went viral, paved the way for a more humane reflection on managerial practices. At the time, many laughed at this concept, but today, it’s at the heart of modern companies’ concerns. According to Gaël, compassion at work is not a weakness, but a strength that improves productivity and talent retention.
Being Well with Oneself to be Well at Work
Gaël emphasized an essential point: well-being at work starts with personal well-being. He shared practical advice from his latest book Happywork:
- Identify unnecessary critical thoughts and replace them with constructive ones.
- Accept your imperfections as natural elements of the learning process.
- Ask yourself positive questions at the end of the day, such as: “What did I do well today?”
These simple practices help develop self-compassion, a key tool for maintaining mental balance, even in difficult times.
The Challenges of the Compassionate Manager
Being a compassionate manager doesn’t mean being complacent or giving up authority. Gaël clarified this notion:
- Recognize and reward performances while explaining difficult decisions.
- Adapt your management to individual needs without losing sight of team objectives.
- Cultivate trust through transparency, consistency, and fairness.
A striking example was shared: that of a manager who, after becoming aware of the impact of his actions, transformed his daily interactions by adding a simple habit, like saying “good morning” to his team every day.
Encouraging Open Communication to Promote Fulfillment
Gaël also mentioned the importance of encouraging open communication in the workplace. He told the anecdote of a president who, after a simple observation, ordered to remove all office doors to encourage exchanges. According to Gaël, simple gestures like paying attention to what colleagues say or organizing regular discussion moments can transform team dynamics.
Learning from Mistakes: Failure Days
Another inspiring idea discussed during the session is that of Failure Days, a practice from Silicon Valley. These days allow teams to share their major mistakes in a supportive environment, thus encouraging a learning culture. Gaël emphasized that what’s serious is not making mistakes, but not learning from them.
Conclusion: towards Humane and Effective Management
This Masterclass was a real invitation to rethink management from the perspective of compassion and “personal fulfillment. Gaël concluded the session with a strong message: being a good manager is above all about being” attentive to oneself and others.
To delve deeper into these teachings, the book Happywork is an essential resource, as is the eponymous podcast. Gaël left us with this powerful reflection: “Every day is an opportunity to become a good person.”
Don’t miss the next Masterclass!