Why Joy at Work Matters

This GuidePost talks about how we are always in pursuit of happiness. But happiness is based on chance and not something that can be constantly achieved. Pleasure is also temporary and not something that should be constantly strived for. Instead, we should focus on having joy, which is more internal and based on making peace with your self. To have Joy@Work, we should focus on leveraging our talents and doing something purposeful for others. Although it will take time and effort, the benefits will be worth it in the end.

This GuidePost answers the following questions:

1. What is the problem with the pursuit of happiness?

2. What are the benefits of aiming for joy instead of happiness?

3. What does research show about the benefits of being happy at work?

4. What did the Energy Project find were the benefits of going beyond engagement?

5. What is the most underutilised way to increase productivity, engagement, and performance?

6. What are the three things that bring joy in the workplace?

7. How can you have joy@work?

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Seeking Pleasure, Finding Joy

When you ask people what they want in life, the No 1. answer is “Happiness”. But, there’s a problem with the pursuit of happiness found in the root of the word which is “hap”. Which is the same “hap” in perhaps, haphazard, happenstance and happen. It means luck, chance or fortune and to have happiness means it has to happen to you.

And another problem, when many people think about happiness they’re really thinking about what gives them pleasure and having more of those things. Pleasure is extrinsic, visceral and temporary.

Joy, on the other hand is more consistent and cultivated internally. Joy comes when you make peace with who you are, why and how. Whereas, happiness is externally triggered and based on other people, places, things, events and thoughts.

Aiming for joy is far more beneficial and less transitory. So how can you have Joy@Work

Imagine that someone created a green pill that adds years to your life; it reduces the risk of having a heart attack or stroke; cuts your risk of Alzheimer's disease by more than fifty percent; helps you relax during the day and sleep better at night; it doubles your chances of staying drug and alcohol free after treatment; activates your natural killer cells; diminishes your inflammatory cells; increase your good cholesterol (HDL); and it repairs your DNA.

What if this imaginary green pill reduced hospitalisation so much that it put a big dent in the national health crisis?

Oh, and as a special bonus, it gives you better sex.

The company that made that green pill would be worth gazillions right? The green pill's inventors would win Nobel Prizes and have institutes named for them.

But it's not a green pill. It's the Resilience of fulfilling Your Purpose. And it's free.

And you get side effects. More friends. Greater happiness. Deeper engagement in life. And better sex.

Now imagine a red pill that makes your work almost effortless, yet simultaneously fulfilling. Every moment at work you are in the zone. You're flowing and your performance is so good, and your productivity increases and you are more engaged with your work and with your colleagues.

The company who made that red pill would be worth even more gazillions and businesses would be clamouring for their workers to take this magnificent drug so they could profit even more and keep staff happily employed and engaged for years to come at higher wages with shorter working hours and greater productivity.

Well those red pills would be flying off the shelves faster than an speeding bullet.

But it's not a red pill. It's leveraging your T