The Business of Joy
Almost every leader I have been speaking to over the last few months has said some version of the same sentence: “I’m exhausted. Where has all the joy gone?”
Perhaps winter is settling in, but I sense it is more than the weather. When uncertainty grows, we often quietly let go of joy first.
Here’s what I believe: Joy isn’t a luxury for good times. It is a resource we need most when things are difficult. It is about finding moments of satisfaction and connection, even when the bigger picture feels uncertain.
And research like the Boston Consulting Group (BCG)'s “Enjoying Work Matters More Than You May Realise", backs this up.
Two things that help me:
- I celebrate small wins. Before rushing to the next challenge, I take a moment to notice what moved forward today.
- I make time for real connection. A conversation with someone that doesn't focus on deadlines is so enriching.
Neither solves every problem. But both reconnect me with the people and purpose that make the work worthwhile.
I have decided that joy is a more serious theme than we think. It is the heart of my keynote, “The Business of Joy,” because I believe it belongs in how we lead, work and build relationships.
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