Finding Joy in Our Work

By Vicki Brockman

Joy...what does this word mean to you? During the Christmas season, we tend to think of Christmas carols or the joy on a child’s face on Christmas morning. But what does joy mean to us as leaders in our daily work?  The responses will be mixed, as each of us has a different perspective of joy based on our unique experiences.

There have been many articles published around this topic focused on the work environment. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) took a slightly different approach and recently published a white paper outlining a framework for improving joy in work (Sherman, 2019). The framework is built on the concept staff must be positive, confident and engaged in order to provide a healing environment for patients (Sherman, 2019). In a four-step model described by Perlo, Swensen, Kabcecenell, Landsman and Feeley (2017, p. 8), the first step sets the foundation by asking staff “What matters to you?”

Next, it is important to identify obstacles that may be blocking the way. Ensuring that all leaders are involved and using performance improvement processes to test and revise changes are the last two steps in the framework. The overall model describes nine critical components required for staff to experience joy in their work. These include physical and psychological safety, meaning and purpose, choice and autonomy, recognition and rewards, participative management, camaraderie and teamwork, daily improvement, wellness, resilience and real-time measurement (Perlo, et.al, 2017). None of these concepts are new to leaders; we strive for these daily in our own facilities. However, it is helpful to see them in one model that has a focus on joy in work.

One thing that made me pause is the phrasing joy in “work” and not the “workplace." Again, it is more than our work environment, although that is critical; it is the work itself. What is the purpose of our work? Why are we there? What is most important to us as caregivers in our workplace? Lots of new things to think about!

Many times as leaders, we are focused on how to bring joy to others. After all, W. Edwards Deming stated, “Management’s overall aim should be to create a system in which everybody may take joy in his (or her) work” (IHI Multimedia Team, 2017, p. 1). Clearly as leaders we need to create and foster an environment where staff can succeed. But simultaneously, we need to feel that same level of encouragement, positivity and support ourselves in our leadership roles (Kelly & Adams, 2018).

Many times we are so busy taking care of everyone else that we neglect our own needs. Supporting leaders and watching them get excited about staff successes – whether through project work or achieving a certification – is very fulfilling. Seeing the leaders themselves achieve successes in their own professional growth is exciting and brings a sense of achievement to some and a sense of joy to others. But we still cannot forget to take time for ourselves and keep our “tanks filled” to avoid the burnout that can come from continuously supporting others in what seems to be a never-ending stream of requests, problems and challenges.

One simple thing that brings me joy in work is my quiet time every morning with my coffee, my devotional and then my e-mails, all before anyone else is in the office. That uninterrupted time allows me space to reflect on the previous day and then plan for the day to come. And when I want to escape the endless meetings or monotony of daily tasks, I go to the nursing units and round on the front-line staff. There is nothing that keeps me centered more than watching them provide skilled, compassionate care to our patients and doing this not as individuals, but as a multidisciplinary team. Of course, I want our patients to be comfortable and satisfied with our care, but I also want our team to enjoy the work they do as well and seeing that work in action brings me joy.  

I hope this Christmas season brings you joy in your work, as well as joy in your personal holiday celebrations and moving forward into 2020!

References

1. Kelly, L. A., & Adams, J. M. (2018). Nurse Leader Burnout: How to Find Your Joy. Nurse Leader, 16(1), 24–28.
2. IHI Multimedia team. (2017).  Institute for Healthcare Improvement. It Isn’t Joy in Work; Joy IS the Work,  Institute for Healthcare Improvement.  http://www.ihi.org/communities/blogs/-it-isn-t-joy-in-work-joy-is-the-work- by IHI multimedia team 
3. Perlo J., Balik G., Swensen S., Kabcenell A., Landsman J., Feeley D. (2017).  IHI Framework for Improving Joy in Work.  IHI White Paper. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Institute for Healthcare Improvement.
4. Sherman, R. O., & Blum, C. (2019). Finding Joy in the Workplace. AJN American Journal of Nursing, 119(4), 66–69. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NAJ.0000554557.54393.5f