Leader Skills Series: Joy

Joy may not be what you first think of when you think of a President, CEO or General. But when you recall the people who have had the most formative impact on your lives, chances are they were inspiring joy. 

Joy is so many things... an antidote, survival strategy, prayer, spark... it is what awakens the spirit. 

Joy is not about happiness, pleasure or satisfaction. It's what turns the lights on inside your heart and mind. It's an earnest delight and sense of awe. I see it as an activation of purpose, a clue of belonging, and quite possibly what can heal the world. 

Joy is the source of hope, faith and love. It is what we return to after being lost in despair. It is what calls us home to our purpose. It's what you discover when you dig deep. And, it is in endless supply when we choose to seek it out. 

Leaders can share it to help endure shitty times, navigate intractable conflicts, motivate their teams, and build resilience. 

• How do you define joy? What does it feel like in your body when you're experiencing it?
• How would you describe it... it's color, shape, sound, song?
  
• How did you experience joy today?
• What brings you a lot of joy? 
• Who do you know that is really good at activating joy for you?
• When you are in your joy, how do others respond to you?

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What will you do today to strengthen your relationship with joy?

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