At one time or another we’ve all experienced the “suck” at work. We show up at 8 and count down the minutes to 5. Monday morning rolls around, and we can’t wait for the weekend. 

This kind of environment is characterized by lagging productivity, high turnover, and a disgruntled team. Our teams deserve better, and so do you!

Enter… joy.

The Solution: Joy in the Workplace

What if, as leaders, we can create an amazing and even joyful work environment? A place where employees are motivated, happy, and productive? 

According to an article by Patty Van Cappellan in the Journal of Positive Psychology, joy is the emotion that connects us to our identity; “[I]t is the emotion that makes life worth living in the moment.” (emphasis added) 

This is a pretty big statement! Just imagine how a workplace could be transformed if we create an environment of joy.   

Let’s take a moment to paint a picture. In a joyful workplace, people—all people—are important. They are simultaneously individuals, members of teams, and members of a larger community. Their entire being is important. What they do at work, what they choose to share, and what they seek support for in their personal life—all of this matters.

Creating Joy in the Workplace: How to Get Started 

Does this sound too good to be true? Are you wondering if joy really does belong in the workplace, or whether it’s a colossal waste of time to try? 

I’m here to tell you it will pay off big. 

You won’t necessarily see instant results, but over time your workplace environment will transform. Your employees won’t just show up and mentally check out – e.g. “quiet quitting.” They’ll show up and be present and productive, and they’ll leave at the end of the day feeling fulfilled.

Underlying Principles of a Joyful Workplace

Building a joyful workplace or introducing joy in the workplace is a worthy endeavor, not to be entered into lightly and without forethought. There are four principles to keep in mind when creating a joyful workplace:

1. As leaders in a joyful workplace, we are interested in the whole person who is working with us. 
2. A joyful workplace should be a safe space for people to work and grow from. They can share when they need assistance and support, both professionally as well as personally.
3. The more we get to use our talents, skills, and gifts, the more purposeful (and enjoyable) our work becomes.
4. The more our contributions are acknowledged and valued, the more appreciated (and joyful) we feel.

Without these four principles, we experience fear, anxiety, anger, disengagement or other negative emotions at work (which emotion often depends on who you are and the workplace environment). Ultimately, we need to feel safe, secure, and appreciated, and to have opportunities to use our talents in ways that contribute to a joyful workplace.

Your Journey to a Joyful Workplace Starts Today  

Do rainbows and unicorns come out when we start to create spaces that are safe, secure, and joyful—environments where people get to contribute and are acknowledged? Sometimes. Sometimes, not. Creating a joyful workplace takes investment, commitment, and time. Yet, it is a worthwhile endeavor that will pay off BIG.

Start today by looking at the four principles above and taking a hard look at where your culture and leadership approach aligns (and where there are opportunities to uplevel your workplace joy). 

As we fully adopt these joyful workplace principles, we build a culture based on high respect, high trust and high collaboration. Imagine work transforming into a place where we know and care about each other, where we can talk to anyone, anytime, about anything; and most importantly, where we come together as a community to create revolutionary impact. 

Before you get started, make a decision now, in this very moment, that joy does belong in the workplace. This belief (remember the power of thoughts!) will be pivotal in fueling your journey to create more joy in your workplace.

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At The Human Priority, we believe in high collaboration, high trust, high respect. We believe in creating workplaces where you can have co-conversations and a sense of community. This is what creates the Workplace Fairytale! This is where people come together and do awesome, great, phenomenal things together. We can help you accomplish this! Learn more about our business consulting services.