Rose Meagher

1. How to Find Joy in
Your Work
Rose Meagher

2. joy
noun ˈjoi
Definition:
• the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or
good fortune, or by the prospect of possessing
what one desires
• the expression or exhibition of such emotion
• a state of happiness or felicity
• a source or cause of delight

5. “I work only because I
have to. Joy comes
when the clock says it’s
time to go home.”
“I work with passion,
delight, and feel a
strong connection to
my work!”
“It depends on the day
and what I’m working
on …”
1 102 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
How much joy do you get
from your JOB today?

6. Source: Gallup State of the Global Workplace Report, “Unhappy Employees Outnumber Happy Ones By Two to One Worldwide,”
Susan Adams, Forbes, 10/10/2013
18% 52% 30%
70%
Disengaged
Job Satisfaction in U.S.

7. 39%
61%
1987
Satisfied Not Satisfied
Source: Conference Board report, “Most Americans are Unhappy At Work,” Susan Adams, Forbes, 6/20/2014
Job Satisfaction in U.S.
52%
48%
2014

8. Source: Conference Board; Harvard Business School; Alexander Kjerulf, Woohoo Inc.
The Case for
People with Low Joy/
Satisfaction
• Cause Problems/Complain
• High Stress
• Low Energy
• Low Creativity
• Pessimistic
• Worry more
• Make poor decisions
• Make less $
• Learn slower
• Difficulty working with others
• More sick days
People with High
Joy/Satisfaction:
• Solve Problems Faster
• Lower Stress
• Higher Energy
• Higher Creativity
• Optimistic
• Worry less
• Make better decisions
• Make more $$$
• Learn faster
• Work better with others
• Healthier/less sick days

9. Job Description
ACTIVITY
Take 3 minutes and jot down
your job description.

10. How does your job
benefit…
Community
Customers
Co-workers
You
Family

13. Photo credit: kazuend via unsplash.com

14. Job Description
ACTIVITY
Take 3 minutes and jot down
your job description.

15. I love my job it
makes me happy
because…my customers
are always so happy
to see me. I make
their day. Massage
Therapist
Working at the
college cafeteria
gives me holidays
and summers off with
my family – helping
us create wonderful
memories. Cafeteria
Worker
This bellman job has
flexible hours and
allows me to pursue
my music career.
BGNNN.’- Hotel
Bellman YYG
Your Job Purpose
Helping people make
their dreams come
true – a new car,
college, their first
home. I’m making a
difference in their
lives. Banker
I look out my window
and see 250 cars and
it reminds me that I
have a huge
responsibility to
everyone… Executive
Creating this “part”
for our customer is
making others happy.
They get to buy the
motorcycle they have
dreamed
about…Factory Worker

17. Support others to become
the kind of leader
they want to be…

18. ACTIVITY
Now, spend 3-5 minutes writing
down your job purpose.
Community Co-workers
Rewarding Skills/Strengths Recognition
Customers
Your Job Purpose
You
Family

19. ACTIVITY
Discuss these differences
with your neighbors.
Notice a Difference?
Helping people finance
their dreams – a new car,
college, their first home
– means I’m making a
difference in their lives.

21. Job to Joy Actions
Elevate Your Day
Surround Yourself with
Great Role Models
Build Relationships
Be Generous, Give to Others

23. Elevate Your Day
Change your view
Raise it up a notch!
Focus on your job purpose

24. WHAT AM I GOING
TO DO TODAY THAT
REINFORCES MY
JOB PURPOSE?

26. Surround Yourself
With Great Role Models
Seek out successful, positive people
Learn everything you can from them
Don’t listen to the naysayers and
complainers

27. IF YOU WANT TO
HAVE GREATNESS IN
YOUR LIFE,
SURROUND
YOURSELF WITH
GREAT PEOPLE.
Amy Chan

29. Build Relationships
Invite others to coffee, lunch
Find something in common
Listen and learn about them
Show appreciation
Develop “care” for the other person

31. Be Generous, Give to Others
Give your time
Be genuine
Champion others
Show compassion
Celebrate other’s success

32. WE MAKE A
LIVING BY WHAT
WE GET. WE
MAKE A LIFE BY
WHAT WE GIVE.
Winston Churchill

34. Common Roadblocks
1. My boss/co-workers
2. Work is with me 24/7
3. “I’m misunderstood” or
“They don’t know what I can do”
4. Me!!!
ACTIVITY
With 3-4 people, take 5 minutes to
brainstorm ways to overcome!

35. Debrief: Roadblocks
1. My boss/co-workers
2. Work is with me 24/7
3. “I’m misunderstood” or
“They don’t know what I can do”
4. Me!!

36. Personal Action Plan
What do I love about my job?
What are my frustrations?
What 1-2 things will I do differently to
increase ?

37. THE QUESTION ISN’T
“WHO IS GOING TO
LET ME?” IT’S “WHO
IS GOING TO STOP
ME?”
Ayn Rand

38. The Difference is

39. Rose Meagher
Meagher Consulting LLC
meagherr@icloud.com

40. Sources
 Adams, Susan. "Most Americans Are Unhappy At Work." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 20 June
2014. Web.
 Adams, Susan. "Unhappy Employees Outnumber Happy Ones by Two To One Worldwide."
Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 10 Oct. 2013. Web.
 Ayu, Ariana. "The Enormous Cost of Unhappy Employees." Inc.com. Inc., 27 Aug. 2014. Web.
 Ayu, Ariana. "Why Happiness at Work Matters." Inc.com. Inc., 14 Aug. 2014. Web.
 Cabrera, Beth. Beyond Happy: Women, Work, and Well-Being. Print.
 Carmody, Bill. "The Power of YOU!" Inc.com. Inc., 04 May 2015. Web.
 Hall, Mindy. Leading with Intention: Every Moment Is a Choice. Print.
 Orane, Marguerite. "From JOB to JOY: How to Find JOY at Work, No Matter What Your Job Is."
The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 23 Apr. 2015. Web.
 Pfifferling, John-Henry, PhD, and Kay Gilley, MS. "Putting ‘Life’ Back Into Your Professional
Life." Putting 'Life' Back Into Your Professional Life. American Academy of Family Physicians, 6
June 1999. Web.
 Spraggins, Crystal. "Employee (Un)engagement: Unhappy Employees Are Costing You
Billions." Payscale.com. PayScale Human. Capital., 4 June 2015. Web.
 Waitley, Denis, and Reni L. Witt. The Joy of Working: The 30 Day System to Success, Wealth
& Happiness on the Job. New York, NY: Dodd, Mead, 1985. Print.
 Wood, John. "16 Ways to Put More Enthusiasm in Your Work and Life By John Wood.”
AWAIonline Main RSS. American Writers & Artists Inc., 24 Feb. 2012. Web.