Joy To The Workplace: 10 Ways To Bring Happiness in The Front Door This Season
Marianne Schnall, author and founder of Feminist.com, at a recent panel in Washington, D.C..
Whether or not you celebrate the holidays, it is undeniable that most of the world around you at work and in your personal life do. While you may not be humming the lyrics to “Joy To The World” every morning, noon, and night, it may be in your best interest to seek out the joy this season and cultivate a work culture that oozes happiness. Or at least a genuine smile.
“Being joyful at work is crucial for mental health and overall well-being. Joyful individuals often experience lower stress levels, improved mental resilience, and stronger interpersonal relationships” psychologist Dr Neha Dutt tells Healthshots.
“Being #joyful at work is #crucial for #mentalhealth.. Joyful individuals often experience lower #stress levels, improved #mental resilience, and stronger #interpersonal relationships. — Dr. Neha Dutt for @HTHealthshots”
A recent Conference Board survey shows 62.7% of job satisfaction reported, but, “for the 6th year in a row, women are significantly less satisfied across almost all 26 job satisfaction components surveyed.” The report continues, “The largest gaps between men and women were related to wages, bonuses, potential for growth, health benefits (including mental health policies), and retirement plans.”
So with these challenges outlined, what do some notable leaders have to say about generating satisfaction and happiness in your work life now?
To jumpstart your joy, Take The Lead gathers the 10 best pieces of leadership and life advice on how to create and sustain a content and joyful work culture not just this time of year, but all year round. Even when the outside world breeds discontent.
“To #jumpstart your #joy, @TakeTheLeadWomen gathers the 10 best pieces of #leadership advice on how to create and sustain a #content and #joyful work culture not just now, but all year round.”
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown-Jackson fulfilled her lifelong dream this past week of being on the Broadway stage with a small role in “& Juliet.” It was a role that brought her joy and also enamored the audience as she was the first ever Black SCOTUS to perform on Broadway.
It is possible to fulfill career dreams as well with persistence. Following her SCOTUS appointment, Brown-Jackson shared the meaning and consequence of her justice role and the joy and satisfaction it brings and why.
1. Ketanji Brown-Jackson, U.S. Supreme Court Justice: "It means you feel the weight of wanting to succeed, not just for you in your own independent status, but because so many people are watching and view this as a door opening for others. I know in the past I've felt, 'Gosh, I've really got to do well here so that other people will have this opportunity down the line.' That I might be the first, but I don't want to be the last, and it's on my shoulders to make sure that I leave a good impression so that others can follow," she told People.
Gloria Feldt writes on Brown-Jackson’s confirmation about the expression of joy she exemplies. “I wrote in my book Intentioning: Sex, Power, Pandemics, and How Women Will Take The Lead for (Everyone’s) Good about why and how racial and gender justice must go forward together if either is going to succeed. We saw that connection playing out last week made, and yet concentrate, for now, on the joy.”
“@GloriaFeldt1 writes on @Justice Ketanji’s confirmation about the expression of joy she exemplifies. “I wrote in my book about why #racial and #gender justice must go forward together. We saw that #connection playing out last week, and yet concentrate, for now, on the# joy.”
2. Regina Huber, Founder & CEO at Transform Your Performance, Leadership Ambassador at Take The Lead Women; Author of Speak up, Stand out and Shine: Speak Powerfully in Any Situation. “A richer creativity pool fueled by more diversity leads to forms of progress for the entire wo/mankind that we can’t even imagine yet, and I look forward to being surprised. As we work together to get there, treat yourself and others to a smile! The kind that comes from your heart.
Huber adds, “Whenever a limiting thought sneaks into your mind, turn it around...The fastest way to turn this thought around is by asking a positive “what if” question: “What if they actually like my idea? What if I have the power to help them see the benefit of my suggestion? With a question, you open up a possibility. And if you add a smile, this tiny physiological change sends a signal to your brain that tells you to be happy, and that in itself is empowering… because when we feel better, we can accomplish more.”
3. Allison Gabriel, Thomas J. Howatt Chair in Management in School of Business at Purdue University and faculty director of Purdue’s Center for Working Well. “Now organizations want to, and leaders understand they have to, talk about well-being if they want to stay competitive,” Gabriel tells Purdue. “I want to start these conversations so people feel more empowered to tell co-workers, supervisors or leaders what’s happening in their lives. People are messy, and I find that really beautiful and exciting.”
Read more in Take The Lead on job satisfaction
4. Christiana Figueres, Costa Rican diplomat behind the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, “Leadership has for too long been about the strong back — rules, authority, control. Leadership must now evolve into a balancing act of our strong back with our soft front, our empathy, our attention to others, and to the impact we are having on the planet,” she tells BigThink.
“#Leadership must now evolve into a balancing act of our strong back with our soft front, our #empathy, our #attention to others, and to the #impact we are having on the planet. — CFigueres”
5. Marianne Schnall, Founder of Feminist.com, and author of What Will It Take to Make a Woman President: Conversations About Women, Leadership and Power. “There’s so much divisiveness in the world right now. We have to find a way to bridge differences and have messy dialogues in which we don’t see eye to eye or can’t see someone else’s perspective. To try to find common ground, find more opportunities to come together and discuss grievances, and also unify around our common humanity. It takes having new types of conversations, understanding how we can support each other and what each of our communities need. We do all have so much in common,” Schnall tells Lex Schroder at Take The Lead.
“Bridging #differences takes having new types of #conversations, #understanding how we can #support each other and what each of our #communities need. We do all have so much in common. — @MarianneSchnall”
Read more in Take The Lead on measuring happiness at work.
6. Gizele Lodi, Chief Marketing Officer of digital coaching platform EZRA. "A workplace culture that is built on positivity and happiness allows us to feel comfortable speaking more openly and transparently, feel more engaged and appreciated, and helps to promote personal growth as well. It can also boost job satisfaction - because when employees enjoy their work, it ultimately influences their overall happiness and wellbeing," she tells Hello.
7. Jo Howarth, founder of The Happiness Club. “Living a happy life is coming to a place allowing everything to be as it is. Sometimes it is a bit of a juggling act. The biggest thing I’ve learned is I am really good at cutting myself some slack. It’s priceless. You can absolutely change anything and everything you want to change. Paying attention to our emotions is important. Our emotions aren’t just there for us to feel, there are there to tell us something, she tells the podcast, Happiness At Work.
Read more in Take The Lead about cultivating your wellness at work
8. Marianela Nanninga, founder and CEO of ToDo Robotics. “As a Latina leader in a field dominated by men, my path has been as much about personal growth as professional innovation. I’ve learned to let go of the perfectionism that often comes with breaking barriers, embracing collaboration and authenticity instead. And I’ve found my voice—not just for myself, but for the countless others I hope to inspire. Looking ahead, my vision is to bridge the gap between advanced technology and the communities that feel left behind by it. Young Latinos, in particular, deserve to see themselves as part of the future of robotics. My goal is to show them that this field isn’t just for someone else—it’s for them, too,” she tells Take The Lead.
9. Susan Masten, co-president/founder, Women Empowering Women for Indigenous Nations, with the mission, “To install a balance between service and solitude and between fulfilling responsibilities and devotion to loved ones. To express encouragement, understanding, and joy to others dedicated to following the guidance of our creator and serving our communities as role models.” Masten tells the 19th about the annual conference, “When they come, whether they need to be in a positive environment, fine-tune their skills, or feel encouragement, they find it. It’s wonderful to see because it’s almost magical, in a sense, because we don’t have that kind of network at home.” She adds, “That’s what rejuvenates me and makes me feel balanced again and whole. It’s being able to see women coming together, supporting each other, sharing, learning, healing. It’s a wonderful thing for our women to be who they want to be.”
“That’s what rejuvenates me. It’s being able to see women coming together, supporting each other, sharing, learning, healing. It’s a wonderful thing for our women to be who they want to be. — @Susan_Masten.”
Read more in Take The Lead on solutions at work
10. Dhivya Suryadevara, CEO of Financial Services, United Health Group. “You can’t just give up. You’ve got to keep going at it and it’s a long journey. You have to work very, very hard... Having said that, try to have some fun while you’re doing all of that as well...Try to keep things in perspective and take time for yourself once in a while.” She tells Women in Finance.
Joy at work, because of work or through work can be a doable goal. A 2023 Bowling Green State University study breaks it down and finds that happiness and contentment at work is achieved through the “career trifecta” defined as “a role harmonizing personal aspirations, autonomy over time and place, collaborative partnerships, and income.”
Leadership Takeaway of The Week:
“That’s what rejuvenates me and makes me feel balanced again and whole. It’s being able to see women coming together, supporting each other, sharing, learning, healing. It’s a wonderful thing for our women to be who they want to be.”
Susan Masten, co-president/founder, Women Empowering Women for Indigenous Nations.
