4 ways to find joy as a manager — even on bad days

1. Find your why

To better connect with yourself and integrate joy, hope, and optimism into your workday, Auger-Domínguez recommends embracing your "why," or "the driving force behind all you do."

To understand your "why," Auger-Domínguez suggests answering the following:

• What activities/pursuits bring you joy and enthusiasm? Having or knowing the answer to this question can help you pinpoint your passion.
• What skills/talents do you possess for the greater good? This information can help you determine what you're good at/what your calling is.
• How can you be acknowledged/rewarded for your contributions to the world? Your profession is an example of something you could be rewarded for.
• How can you positively impact others and the world at large? This helps better inform what the world needs, as well as your mission to provide it.

Your personal joy, things you're uniquely good at, and what the world needs from you are all fuel that keep you going. When you more closely align your work with these elements, you can see a renewed passion and purpose in your role.

2. Embrace the mindset of a beginner

The day-to-day hustle and bustle can sometimes keep us from recognizing new possibilities.

From the exciting days of your first job to the sense of accomplishment around your last promotion, you've once experienced days that brimmed with potential, attainability, and excitement, Auger-Domínguez writes.

Since then, have you recognized the ways you've experienced burnout? Do these once-exciting achievements now feel unexciting or stale?

According to Shunryu Suzuki, author of "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind," "[i]n the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's mind there are few."

Embracing Shoshin, a Zen Buddhist term for "beginner's mind," means navigating the world or, in the case of your career, your workplace with "the openness and curiosity of a novice," Auger-Domínguez writes. 

Because embracing a beginner's mindset frees us from past knowledge and biases, instead fostering an eagerness to learn and a sense of wonder, we can better expand our perspectives and break free from any blockages or feelings of burnout that arise. 

By asking questions and approaching challenges with a "tell me more" attitude, you'll unlock a new level of creativity within yourself — and reduce the team-wide pressure to have all the answers, Auger-Domínguez writes.

3. Spread gratitude and joy.

According to research from the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley, gratitude in the workplace "leads to increased job satisfaction, improved mental health, and stronger team cohesion," Auger-Domínguez writes.

By actively spreading gratitude and recognizing others, you can boost morale, strengthen relationships, and create a more supportive team culture, Auger-Domínguez writes.

Auger-Domínguez urges readers to think of an employee who's recently done something memorable or helped you. Consider thanking them with a thoughtful gesture, such as a personal note, a shout-out in your next team meeting, or small tokens of appreciation, and encourage your staff to do the same.

4. Fuel your joy.

On days where work just feels overwhelming, Auger-Domínguez suggests keeping a "Happy Folder" on your desktop and filling it with positive feedback and positive moments that can lift spirits and remind you of your value.

Also consider "easing up" on self-criticism and instead give yourself the same kindness you offer others. According to research, positive self-talk "improves mental health by reducing anxiety and depression, building resilience, and boosting confidence," Auger-Domínguez writes.  

When you need a boost, Auger-Domínguez says to ask yourself the following:

• What aspects of my work bring me joy?
• What would need to be true about my role for me to stay here for five more years?
• How can I positively influence my team and create a ripple effect?

"Integrating joy, hope, and optimism within teams is more than a modern version of management of self-care; it's a leadership mindset," Auger-Domínguez writes. "As you implement these strategies, remember that the aim is not just to survive the toughest days — but rather to make work a place where you and your teams can share joy." (Auger-Domínguez, Harvard Business Review, 8/22)

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