Joy + Leadership = ?

Sometimes I google things just for fun, just to see what happens.

Tonight I tried "joyful leadership": nothing came up. Does that seem strange to you? It does to me. That in all the millions of places on the net that this phrase could exist, waiting to be found by Google's ubiquitous spiders, it doesn't.

Does that mean no one thinks leadership can be joyful? If so, then I beg to differ. Leadership, as I experience it and observe others experiencing it, is often joyful. It's also challenging, frustrating, exciting, at times demoralizing and just plain hard...but there is joy in it.

When you're the leader, and your team rallies around a common goal to achieve something that's beyond their individual capabilities: that's joyful.

When, as a leader, you agonize over and then make a difficult decision that turns out to be the right thing to have done: that's joyful.

When you invite and challenge someone who works for you to step up into a more demanding role, and he or she does it and succeeds: that's joyful.

When you, the leader, envision a future that others don't think is possible - and your passion and clarity are enough to open their minds, and you work together to make it happen: that's really joyful!

Maybe we think there's not supposed to be joy in leading -- but it's there. And it's wonderful not only for the leader, but for everyone else around her (or him). Go for it.

Comments

[George Mazzeo]

I couldn't agree more.
There are few things more rewarding than being the guiding force for a successful team. Setting and meeting goals and watching the personal growth of your team members is extremely satisfying. On the other hand, setting and failing goals and watching your team flounder is a major downer. I have been party to, and have learned from, both. I guess if success were guaranteed, then then "joy" of accomplishment wouldn't be so sweet.

[Erika Andersen]

George -

Really good point. Just the other day I was talking to a client whose team had pulled a situation out of the fire, and she was feeling pretty elated. She was exquisitely aware of how it *might* have turned out!

Warmly,
Erika

[Eric Peterson]

Erika-
Another great post. What you say is spot on in so many ways. I can't think of a whole lot of things that are more joyful than leading a team to the "promised land"!

Yes, there are times (as you say) when leading is stressful, frustrating, and demoralizing.....But, the payoff can be amazing! What I like even more than the payoff though....is the JOURNEY: lessons learned, mistakes made, accomplishments met! That, to me, is what is truly joyful!

[Erika Andersen]

Wow, two posts from you in a single day - I'm honored!

And I agree there's joy in the journey....

E

[Andrew B. Clark]

Hi Ericka -

I was referred to your post through Eric Peterson’s Leadership and Other Ramblings blog.

I couldn't agree more. If, as a leader, you show joy in your duities, then those you’re leading will show/have more faith that there’s a rewarding path to be followed. If you show resentment and frustration, who will want to trudge after you?

Now Google has something to show for future “Joy + Leadership” searches.

Great post!

Keep Cooking!
Andrew

[Erika Andersen]

Thanks Andrew, I completely agree. I often talk with leaders about how important they are as models of what's possible: if the leader feels and demonstrates joy, optimism, focus, commitment, a sense of fun - what a powerful and useful message he or she is sending to people about what work can be!

Thanks for reading -

Warmly,
Erika

[Tom Magness]

Hi Erika

In the military, the burden of command would not be worth it -- if it wasn't fun or joyful. The joy of seeing young men and women, months away from being the "big kid on the block" and thinking only about themselves -- now part of a team, part of a unit, part of a mission and thinking about bigger things like duty, honor, country. That is joyful! Great post. Hooah!

[Erika Andersen]

Tom - what a heartfelt and inspiring post! Thank you -

Warmly,
Erika

[Erika Andersen]

Tom - what a heartfelt and inspiring post! Thank you -

Warmly,
Erika

[Pete Jones]

Joy
I really enjoyed your blog. It is difficult as a leader to remember that the joy needs to come not only from the end result but also from the day to day process as well.

[Pete Jones]

Excuse me, Erica...not Joy. I was all wrapped up in Joy. :)

[Erika Andersen]

Maybe I'll change my name....

Wrapped up in joy - that sounds like a good place to be.

;-)

Erika

[Marc]

Hi Erika,

Its a pleasure to come across you blogsite... We seem to share similar views.

Regarding Joy + Leadership

It was just a matter of timing, I have been holding back to releasing Joyful Leadership for a couple of years now, and and the timing has been perfect to finally releasing the message to the world.

I make up its a Post conventional shift in the collective conscious of which I, yourself and others are a manifestation of, then again I could be way of the Marc.

At Joyful Leadership we have always believed that the resonant energy of Joy and Love are catalysts to growth of the universe.

You think that Joy + Leadership has had a bumpy start, my first Joyful Company was Joyful Executives... till this day I love its provocative oxymoron that it brings to executives faces when I say it!!!!

For other Joyfuls to check out, my wifes business is the "Center for Joyful Business"...

Enjoy!

Warmest Marc

[Erika Andersen]

Marc,

Thanks for posting. I just checked out your Joyful Leadership website, and it looks like you're doing something that's much needed.

Very good luck!

Warmly,
Erika

[Marc]

Thanks Erica,

I really appreciate your sentiments and wishes...

Warmest Marc