ABSTRACT
The delivery of compassionate care in organizations, crucial to the care of the suffering, and to the well-being of those who support them, is intertwined with society’s capacity for compassion. Its enactment is thwarted by a number of factors. Barriers at societal and organizational levels are driven by a neoliberal political philosophy associated with competitive self-interest and materialism. These political structures have contributed to business models of service delivery that emphasize target-driven policies and efficiency cultures, leading in some instances to alarming abuses of care. Possibilities for transforming compassion deficits at a societal level include education and advocacy for more compassionate leadership and ways of being. To foster greater compassionate care at the organizational level requires a culture that embeds compassion-oriented principles and practices in its fabric through strategic leadership. Compassion deficits must be systemically addressed at all levels.
