Work and joy seem mutually exclusive. However given that we spend a significant part of our life working, it is time we learnt to find joy at work
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A quote that I'm resonating with:
Too often, we forget that our professional lives can, and should be joyful
Dorie Clark
Joy and work - don't quite seem like they belong in the same sentence.
However, given that we spend a significant part of our life at work, it is tragic that we feel work and happiness are mutually exclusive.
This need not be so
When we look at examples of people who have created great impact in this world through their work, be they thinkers, teachers, writers, entrepreneurs - leaders in every domain, we see that for them work and joy were inextricably linked - they found joy in their work and in the impact it had on others.
What can we learn from these leaders? I believe their lives provide some clues on how we can find greater joy at work:
1. Be Inspired.
We are often advised to follow our passion. And while this does sound right, it is also true that we discover our passion from our experience - which comes from the work we do. To break out of this cycle, we must find inspiration in whatever we do. When we are able to do this, we also find purpose, meaning, and joy in our work.
2. Be a Player
In whatever we do, we can choose to be either a Player or a Victim. Players take responsibility for everything they do, Victims constantly assign blame to people and circumstances. Holding others responsible might help us feel innocent and blameless, but it is taking responsibility that leads to a sense of accomplishment and contribution. And joy is never far behind.
3. Be Connected
Numerous studies have shown that the people we work with are an important source of our satisfaction with our job. When we interact with others, we have a choice. When our focus is on efficiency and just getting the job done, we tend to choose to transact rather than to engage and relate. When we choose the latter, work seems less of a burden, and more a sense of joy.
