“The joy in life is to be used for a purpose. I want to be used up when I die.” —George Bernard Shaw
As we move from one calendar year to another, we move from endings to beginnings and find time to celebrate holidays. I have been engaging in a practice of choosing to be joyful instead of joy being conditional on circumstances. One way to practice this is to sing music to generate joy. The song Joy to the World has resonated with me, a holiday song I learned as a child. What songs bring joy to you that connect to your background or experiences?
We often recognize joy as beneficial for our well-being, but it has also been good news for leadership. Harvard Business Review (2016) revealed that employees perform 31% better in environments where leaders display positivity, including joy and optimism. A meta-analysis published in the Journal of Organizational Behavior found that positive leader behaviors, including expressions of joy, increased team performance by 27%.
As I have been intentional about joy, I have become more observant of people around me who radiate joy. These people naturally bring up the energy and morale in the room. You can also see how others are drawn to them. It is also not always the person with the “biggest title” in the room. Anyone has the opportunity to radiate this type of energy. We don’t all look the same. It is about authentic joy coming from your genuine self.
So, I want to share about a joyful leader I know as a beneficial way to reflect on leadership.
Portrait of a Joyful Leader: Mama B
Let me introduce you to Bernetta Morris, affectionately known as Mama B. I met her through an exercise class that I attend. She comes to each class with a smile on her face and literally a bounce in her step. Mama B’s enthusiasm encourages those who may struggle to be disciplined in exercising to show up. You may think she must be a super athlete, but she is not. Like the rest of us, she is your average person trying to be fit.
But what I have observed about her joy goes beyond the exercise class. Mama B is a housing assistant at our local University. She doesn’t just do her job; she does it with a mission. Everyone’s job at a university is ultimately to serve students. Mama B does this with a passion. How do I know? Because I have gotten to know the students and staff she brings to the exercise class with her.
These people don’t just attend exercise classes because Mama B advertised it to them. They come because they are in community with Mama B, and you can see the joy Mama B has through building intentional relationships with them. I hear her refer to young people as her “kids.” Her intentionality in loving people causes others to feel like family.
How do I know about their relationships and community? Because I hear their stories. Mama B is not a fair-weather friend. She has come alongside others in their ups and downs. Most recently, Mama B. told me she probably wouldn’t be at the next exercise class because one of her “kids” was having a baby, and she was asked to be at the delivery for support. She said this all with a big smile. Doing real life with others isn’t a weight but a joy for her, even in challenging circumstances.
Mama B’s husband pastors a local church. Mama B invited me to a monthly unity service where they gather with other churches. I decided to attend because of what I saw in her. When I walked into that building, I saw Mama B’s influence everywhere. I especially saw her influence in leadership. Young people were helping to support the coordination of the service. The person who gave the message was a young man whom I know that Mama B and her husband have impacted. I was astounded by how he gave a message of deep wisdom beyond his years.
I also saw a young woman holding her newborn baby share about the community supporting her despite her baby’s hardship in the NIC unit for a time. The joy I saw in her face reflected the joy of Mama B.
Reflections on Joy and Leadership
You don’t have to be precisely like Mama B or anyone you know who lives joyfully. But I encourage you to watch, learn, and reflect on how that kind of joy can be lived in your own life. Here are some reflection thoughts from observing Mama B:
- Where in your day can you smile more?
- What are some simple steps to make time and space to enjoy interactions and invest in relationships with others in your day?
- Where in your life are you a part of a community? Do you and the people you work with enjoy a sense of community together?
- Do you see how your work connects to a greater mission and purpose and then feel joy?
And here is an indicator that you are living joy well:
- Your leadership will abound, and your influence on others will multiply.
I must admit that I have not always lived joy well. I can think of specific times when I have allowed my stress and bad attitude to pull me and others down. It is not pretty. I am also naturally wired to be a deep thinker who is quiet and introverted. But this doesn’t mean I can’t live joy well. I am dedicating myself to learning and finding my way. Will you join me?