Pride. Happiness. Satisfaction. I felt all of these a week ago when my oldest child, Rob (above left, next to yours truly), married his lovely fiancée Anasofia. But more than all of these, I felt joy.
Joy isn’t just pleasure; it’s celebration and triumph. It’s happiness with and for others, as well as yourself. It’s the thing that brings tears to the eyes and makes your heart feel as though it could burst.
One doesn’t normally think of working in retail as something that conjures such depth of emotion. But you don’t just work in retail — you sell jewelry. With each piece you transfer from your showcase to the client’s hand, you participate in their most joyful moments.
Can you do that without being joyful yourself? Of course. But why would you?
In our big story this issue, we examine how you and your staff can create an environment of joy in your workplace. (And no, this doesn’t have to mean you’re jumping up and down giving each other high fives every day — it’s about an inner sense of joy one feels while going about their work.) Studies show that joyful employees do more and better work while feeling more satisfied themselves. It’s a true “win-win.”
You can’t force joy. But you can cultivate a climate that encourages it.
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When my son slipped that platinum band on his new wife’s finger, everyone in attendance shared a joyful feeling. Jewelry is the symbol that commemorates it.
If you don’t find exhilaration, exuberance and exultation in your work, it’s time to get some. So read on, and bring joy to your world!
