Joy Works - Empowering Teams in the New Era of Work

Joy at work--why settle for anything less?
 
In Joy Works: Empowering Teams in the New Era of Work, Alex Liu delivers an engaging blueprint for ensuring people feel safe and inspired at work. Liu, the managing partner and chairman of Kearney, asks, "Why would we settle for anything less than joy at work?" In the book, you'll find a step-by-step action plan for approaching joy at work using the three key drivers that determine employee happiness--people, praise, and purpose--and learn how to implement that plan for maximum results and maximum joy.
 
The author demonstrates how to create more joy for your people at work, in both virtual and in-person environments, as well as how to incorporate joyfulness even in periods of dramatically heightened stress. He calls on his years of conversations with leaders around the world, both as an advisor to executives and through his popular podcast, Joy@Work. Readers will learn from a diverse collection of leaders, from psychologists, academics, athletes, nonprofit and board leaders, and a Broadway producer, to leaders at companies including HPE, Cisco, T-Mobile, SAP, and UPS. In the dialogues and research, readers will also find:
* An introduction to "ikigai," a Japanese concept meaning "reason for being"--a framework we can all use to find joy and meaning in our work
* An investigation into the link between social justice and joy, using conversations with leaders who have committed to making social progress a priority
* A new perspective on how the next generation will view joy at work, the Great Reflection, and the shifting balance of power in work cultures
* In-depth discussions about people, purpose, and praise: the three key elements in building a joyful work experience
* A call for more reflective leadership--a new approach to power leaders through uncertain and challenging times
 
Joy Works is an essential handbook for anyone who wants to create more joy in their work -- the leaders who want to shift corporate cultures, managers who are facing pressures to innovate, young people who are adamant that they can have a life and a career that's centered around joy and meaning, and anyone who thinks "joy at work" is a near-term possibility, not an oxymoron. This guide to the changing reality and opportunity of work belongs in the libraries of anyone interested in creating a more engaging and productive virtual, hybrid, or in-person workspace.
 
Let's build more joy.

List of contents

Acknowledgments xi
 
Foreword xiii
 
Introduction 1
 
Why joy matters to me 1
 
Joy at work 3
 
People, praise, and purpose 4
 
Joy, justice, and a better world 5
 
The future of joy at work 6
 
Who you'll hear from in this book 7
 
Who this book is for 9
 
Chapter 1 Why Business Leaders Should Prioritize Joy at Work 11
 
Joy is your biggest business opportunity 11
 
Joy powers execution 13
 
Joy is critical for all kinds of business 15
 
Joy is the foundation for many key business metrics 15
 
Chapter 2 What the Research Tells Us About Joy 21
 
The joy gap is real 21
 
The joy gap is growing 23
 
We know what triggers joy at work 24
 
We know what's holding us back from joy 26
 
Section One The Three Drivers of Joy at Work 29
 
Chapter 3 People 31
 
Create belonging: It matters more than money 33
 
Create connection points 35
 
Be a people-focused leader 38
 
Think like a gardener and create "human magic" 40
 
Chapter 4 Praise 43
 
Praise autonomous work 44
 
Pair praise with feedback 45
 
Focus on the quality of praise, not the quantity 46
 
Praise individuals, not just groups 46
 
Encourage people to show appreciation for their colleagues 47
 
Use praise to underscore impact 48
 
Chapter 5 Purpose 51
 
Understand your ikigai (a reason for being) 52
 
Find your zest 54
 
Rethink the corporate purpose statement 55
 
Mind the gap 56
 
Personalize purpose 57
 
Section Two Joy in a Post-2020 World: How to Create More Joy 63
 
Chapter 6 Joy in the Hard Times 65
 
Embrace change 66
 
Accept that failure is inevitable 67
 
Acknowledge your mistakes and get real 67
 
Have the courage to be a beginner 69
 
Take time to reflect 71
 
Double down on purpose 71
 
Keep chasing your goosebumps 73
 
Chapter 7 Safe, Seen, Supported, Inspired 75
 
Safe 75
 
Seen 79
 
Supported 81
 
Inspired 84
 
Chapter 8 Virtual and Hybrid Work 89
 
Be aware of how remote work is different than in-person work 90
 
Make conscious decisions about where you'll work 91
 
Find new ways to build connection 93
 
Rethink how you measure performance 95
 
Stay open to change 95
 
Chapter 9 Social Justice and Joy 97
 
Joy and justice for all 98
 
How do we push "social justice" into the mainstream of business? 101
 
Hope for the future 112
 
Section Three What's Next for Joy at Work? 115
 
Chapter 10 The Joy of Innovation 117
 
Leapfrog your legacy 117
 
Look for new ideas in unexpected places 118
 
Stay at the edge 120
 
Empower people to innovate 121
 
Look at purpose through the lens of innovation 121
 
Chapter 11 The Next Generation of Joy at Work 123
 
Pass the baton 123
 
Join the "Great Resignation"--or is it the "Great Reflection"? 124
 
Shift the balance of power 127
 
Keep your promises 128
 
Put your values into action 129
 
Make culture a nonnegotiable 129
 
Rethink old trade-offs 130
 
Accept change as a constant 133
 
Conclusion 135
 
About the Author 137
 
Index 139

About the author

ALEX LIU is Managing Partner and Chairman at Kearney, a leading global consulting partnership. Recognized by Consulting magazine as a global Top 25 Consultant and by the Global Diversity List as one of the Top 10 Senior Executives, he is also a top-ranked consulting CEO and trusted advisor to CEOs and boards. A regular contributor to the World Economic Forum, he has been featured in the Harvard Business Review, The Financial Times, The Economist, CNBC, and Bloomberg. He regularly consults with business and public sector leaders on matters of leadership, culture, justice, and joy, and hosts an award-winning podcast, Joy@Work.

Summary

Joy at work--why settle for anything less?

In Joy Works: Empowering Teams in the New Era of Work, Alex Liu delivers an engaging blueprint for ensuring people feel safe and inspired at work. Liu, the managing partner and chairman of Kearney, asks, "Why would we settle for anything less than joy at work?" In the book, you'll find a step-by-step action plan for approaching joy at work using the three key drivers that determine employee happiness--people, praise, and purpose--and learn how to implement that plan for maximum results and maximum joy.

The author demonstrates how to create more joy for your people at work, in both virtual and in-person environments, as well as how to incorporate joyfulness even in periods of dramatically heightened stress. He calls on his years of conversations with leaders around the world, both as an advisor to executives and through his popular podcast, Joy@Work. Readers will learn from a diverse collection of leaders, from psychologists, academics, athletes, nonprofit and board leaders, and a Broadway producer, to leaders at companies including HPE, Cisco, T-Mobile, SAP, and UPS. In the dialogues and research, readers will also find:
* An introduction to "ikigai," a Japanese concept meaning "reason for being"--a framework we can all use to find joy and meaning in our work
* An investigation into the link between social justice and joy, using conversations with leaders who have committed to making social progress a priority
* A new perspective on how the next generation will view joy at work, the Great Reflection, and the shifting balance of power in work cultures
* In-depth discussions about people, purpose, and praise: the three key elements in building a joyful work experience
* A call for more reflective leadership--a new approach to power leaders through uncertain and challenging times

Joy Works is an essential handbook for anyone who wants to create more joy in their work -- the leaders who want to shift corporate cultures, managers who are facing pressures to innovate, young people who are adamant that they can have a life and a career that's centered around joy and meaning, and anyone who thinks "joy at work" is a near-term possibility, not an oxymoron. This guide to the changing reality and opportunity of work belongs in the libraries of anyone interested in creating a more engaging and productive virtual, hybrid, or in-person workspace.

Let's build more joy.

Product details

• Authors: Liu, a Liu, Alex Liu, Liu Alex
• Publisher: Wiley, John and Sons Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 30.11.2022
• EAN: 9781119988052
• ISBN: 978-1-119-98805-2
• No. of pages: 160
• Subjects: Guides > Law, job, finance; Social sciences, law, business > Business > Management; Management, Führung, Business & management, Wirtschaft u. Management, Management f. Führungskräfte, Management / Leadership