Rev. Dr. Robert Turner, PCC, BCC, is a speaker and executive coach who helps senior leaders facing transition stress, isolation or questioning whether their leadership still feels meaningful. With more than 30 years of experience speaking in business and community settings, he brings executive clarity and trusted support to leaders who are ready for what’s next — even if they’re not sure what that is yet. Learn more at ExecutiveCoachTurner.com.

In the midst of a busy workday, with attention divided among so many responsibilities, it’s easy to lose sight of what in our jobs truly brings us joy. Bridging the separation from joy can yield a high Return on Investment (ROI), not just in levels of satisfaction and fulfillment, but in creativity, productivity and performance.  By prioritizing joy in your job, individuals can create a unique value proposition that sets them apart in their professional lives.

When considering how you are separated from joy, it’s important to recognize that the interpretation of joy as a state of well-being is an internal process. Therefore, the real barrier to joy lies within yourself. Behind that wall lies the negative emotions that you experience in the form of anxiety, overthinking, anger, trauma and unforgiveness. Some will say: “But stuff happens!” Yes, that’s true, but ultimately, you have control over how outside circumstances impact your joy. You determine the extent to which joy is surrendered to adversity.

Consider the story of Cyrus, a talented and experienced software engineer whose fingers navigate the keyboard with practiced ease, although his creative spark and energy has long since dwindled. For Cyrus, years of repetition and routine extinguished the joy he once felt for his job. When monotony sets in, it can create a disconnect between what you expect from work and the reality that’s delivered. To break the cycle, Cyrus follows four steps to find his way back to the joy in a job he loves:

Contrast Theory

Often, joy and happiness are used interchangeably since they both carry a similar positive emotional connotation, but joy is a much more profound experience than simple happiness.  Joy often arises from a sense of purpose or connection, while happiness can result solely on the strength of external factors. Therefore, joy is firmly rooted in self; it’s a whole-mind perspective. While happiness ebbs and flows with external events that are not under our control, joy is sourced from our core state of being.

As Cyrus stares blankly at the screen, the lines of code blurring together, he remembers why he became a software engineer. He remembers his passion for technology and complex problem-solving, and his mission to drive innovation and progress through software applications. Cyrus recognizes that rediscovering his true purpose, beyond mere happiness, is key to finding his way back to joy.

Joy-Centric Organizational Cultures

Joy is an essential human experience; it fosters the resilience needed for goal achievement and shaping meaningful stakeholder connections that drive financial growth. Prioritizing joy, positivity and well-being in leadership, and reflecting this in an organization’s mission and values, yields positive results. Joy-centric cultures gain a competitive edge by recognizing that people and relationships are their core business, regardless of products or services. Therefore, joy must be intentionally integrated into every area — from customer and employee experience to marketing and product development — to build brand loyalty and ensure sustainable success.

Cyrus’s day changed unexpectedly when a senior manager asked him to mentor a new team member. As he shared his knowledge, Cyrus experienced a new awareness that led him to discover a potentially lucrative application. With renewed joy, Cyrus then re-aligned with his organization’s mission to make a positive technological impact.

The Power of Coaching

Coaching empowers us by metaphorically inviting us to slide behind the steering wheel of our lives. This allows us to make a conscious and deliberate decision to turn toward a more joyful and fulfilling direction. When we actively take responsibility for our own joy, rather than passively waiting for it, we position ourselves to experience it. This enables joy to permeate everything we undertake, from our professional initiatives to our personal interactions, nurturing a deeper sense of contentment and purpose in all aspects of life.

Working with a professional coach empowered Cyrus to create a solid, personalized professional development plan. Reflecting on his own learning, he realized the critical need for continuous curiosity and acquiring new knowledge. Armed with clear, intentional goals, he was soon exploring new opportunities and reclaiming the joy in his job that monotonous routines had suppressed.

Conscious Recognition

Joy cannot exist without a hunger to embrace life, which means that we must have the capacity to be curious, interested, enthused and excited … about nearly everything. So ask yourself: What do you look forward to? Is it that next team meeting? Or is it a company retreat in the mountains or at the lake? Whatever it is, dive in with sheer abandonment! And beyond business hours, explore new hobbies or interests, even those that you doubted in some way, because we never know when depthless joy is ready to spring upon us.

Cyrus’s breakthrough came with a profound realization: his attitude and approach to work were entirely within his control. By proactively seeking development and learning opportunities, he deliberately cultivated his joy, reigniting his career passion. This also involved consciously appreciating small daily moments, staying present in interactions, and continually aligning with his core values and passions.

Like a slender shaft of sunlight, joy is there … waiting for our conscious recognition. The disconnection with self is the greatest enemy to cultivating joy.  It is within self that we find a connection and purpose. Those who have not found their purpose are subject to chance experiences of joy. Mindfulness coaching supports the journey of self-discovery, helping us to align our personal and professional lives with core values grounded in universal truth. Through coaching, we can cultivate a deeper appreciation for the everyday blessings that make life special, and in doing so, we can tap into the divine presence within ourselves, lowering the barriers to the joyful life that awaits us. C&IT