Asking what matters is the beginning of joy
Making the business case for Joy in Work
Summary
Joy: the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune
Joy in work is not a flaky, soft, fluffy thing to add on when you have the time or money to do so. Joy in work should be a right for everyone who is committing themselves to the work and leadership in healthcare. It connects us with meaning and purpose, and that’s just the first course.
Its measure starts with engagement and satisfaction, and then the ball is rolling. We get lower turnover, reduced burnout, improved patient experience, outcomes and safety. People are more productive and effective, and make fewer errors. All of that adds up to lower costs: Joy in work saves money.
The steps you take are laid out in the IHI framework, starting with asking ‘what matters to you’. This is leadership in action, and while system and organisation backing, support and engagement make a difference, there is nothing to stop you starting a movement of joy.
It’s an act of resistance, your way to raise the power of the human spirit in yourself and everyone around you. It’s a counterweight to overwhelm and disconnection, where you reclaim your own emotional and mental agency.
And with that, we can positively change the way it feels to work in healthcare so that you can make a difference for those you are serving.
“Joy comes to us in moments—ordinary moments. We risk missing out on joy when we get too busy chasing down the extraordinary.”
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