Strategies and Techniques

Are you unhappy about going to work nearly every day of your life? Do you and your co-workers seem generally displeased with work and what you do at your job? If so, the Joy at Work Club may be for you. Here is the story of Tom as he talks about his job. “After years of being usually satisfied with work and how things were at work I discovered that I hated going to work each day. My job was a drag that was overflowing into other aspects of my life. Happiness was fleeting and something that happened when I was away from my job. My dissatisfaction was affecting my health. It took me too long to realize what was going on in my life and at my job. When I finally did grasp what was happening it took me a while to realize that I was not a victim of a bad job but someone who was contributing to my own demise. I realized that I had a choice. I could change jobs or I could change how I interacted with my job and those with whom I worked. I decided to try to change the latter.”

Things have changed for Tom. He is still in the same job, the same office, and the same position and with the same co-workers, but now he likes his job! He actually enjoys going to work now! How did this happen? We’re not absolutely sure what happened to Tom but we have given it considerable thought and applied many of these ideas to our own lives. We also have had a number of students, friends and others report the value of doing the activities. Some of the activities are original, but for the most part, we have borrowed or modified ideas we have learned from others.

Five themes emerge from the Joy at Work sessions that we believe bring about positive changes. One idea is that Tom changed his perspective about what a job could be or become. A second idea relates to Tom’s need to seek approval from others. Thirdly, and over a period of time, Tom realized that he was judgmental of others and that his critical views brought him down from his infrequent good moods.

Somewhat related is a fourth idea about co-workers. Tom didn’t use good skills to deal with difficult co-workers who were confronting their own unhappiness both in their lives and in their jobs. Tom often took on their concerns at his own expense. The drains on his systems were both emotional and physical. Lastly is the idea of allowing tedium to creep into the work environment because it’s not structured for enjoyment.

These five themes are the main concepts presented in the Joy at Work material. We have struggled with ways to assess a person’s view of their job so that it is valid but yet uncomplicated. Finally, in this material is a bit of preaching about an idea that we think has considerable merit. We know that preaching is seldom effective in promoting change, however in order to share a passion and commitment to the concept of good work the risk of preaching about it is worth taking.

These ideas or blocks to joy at work are the basis for the experiences developed for the Joy at Work Club sessions. The Joy at Work Club is designed to help others find a way to do what Tom did. It is not designed for others to merely emulate Tom. Our plan is that readers will find their own answers from the experiences of the Joy at Work Club sessions. We hope the experiences of the sessions will help you chart a path to allow you to change yourself into a happy person who enjoys working.

The materials for the club sessions are presented on three levels. Level one deals with blocks to joy at work. A second level focuses ways to overcome the blocks. The final and third level is entitled enhancing enjoyment and details some possible changes workers can make to learn to love going to work and doing their jobs.

A new definition of work is evolving! The new definition describes work as an important and fulfilling area of life. The new definition by itself is not innovative. What is changing is that more and more people are coming to expect that work will be good for them rather than them being only good for their work. A happy worker is a more effective and efficient employee. Both employer and employee benefit.[1] You can enjoy rather than dread work! Our society has the potential to transform itself into a planet where compassion, joy and love are common not just for a few but for the majority of those who live and work here.

The old definition of work has a demoralizing effect. Work has been described as the activity that affords one a livelihood or as a strenuous activity that involves difficult effort and seldom affords pleasure. Small wonder that a common attitude about work is that it is, at best, a necessary evil. The prevailing view is that work is supposed to be drudgery! There seems to be a societal indoctrination or brainwashing that most work is weary, exhausting, difficult or boring. But, the perspective is changing. Work can be self-filling and enjoyable!

Unless you already have this new perspective about working, the Joy at Work Club is for you. Do friends complain about their jobs? Even if you are happy with your job you might want to learn about joy at work because you work with people who are daily disgruntled. You may want to check out these ideas about enjoying work so that you can better spread your joy to others.