How to Build a Culture of Joy
"Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4).
Is joy the first thing you think of when you think about your business?
Consultant Alan Badía says it should be. In a LinkedIn post, he lists the wins that Chick-fil-A has enjoyed from nurturing a culture of joy:
$9 billion in revenue in 2017.
50 consecutive years of sales growth.
Top-ranked in customer service.
Badía observes that in organizations with a culture of joy, office politics are minimal, because everyone is on the same page about their common mission and its importance. This type of culture attracts great talent and keeps it on board.
Joyful Teams
In a Harvard Business Review article, management consultant Alex Liu names three components for achieving the company-wide alignment that results in a culture of joy: harmony, impact, and acknowledgment.
Harmony follows when all team members understand their and others’ roles and when each member is encouraged to work from his or her strengths.
When team members are clear on the impact of their work, they feel a healthy pride in their contribution and rejoice to be a part of a team that is making a positive difference.
And nothing evokes more joy than acknowledgement of great results, both from bosses and fellow team members, as they celebrate success and cheer each other on to even greater wins.
Joyful Saints
St. Teresa of Kolkata said that joy is a net of love that catches souls. St. John Bosco proved the truth of that statement by attracting wayward boys to Christ with jokes and magic tricks. Don Bosco’s joy created trust in orphans who may never have trusted before.
The same goes for people we meet every day at work. Lighthearted joy, welling up from our love of God, helps build trust and an engaged team.
What Is It?
The joy we’re looking for is the supernatural kind that will break upon the world in a week with the birth of Jesus. St. Thomas Aquinas writes: “The necessary result of the love of charity is joy: because every lover rejoices at being united to the beloved … the perfection of joy is peace.”
The Source
With that idea in mind, it’s no coincidence that Badía chose a Christian company as his poster child for joy in the workplace: Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit that grows within us with our love of God. Authentic joy cannot be contained—it will bubble over and pour out as life-giving water to our co-workers and customers.
St. Augustine writes that this kind of joy springs from the virtue of hope:
Already we have the first fruits of the Spirit, and have we not also other reasons for rejoicing? For we are drawing near to the one we love, and not only are we drawing near—we even have some slight feeling and taste of the banquet we shall one day eagerly eat and drink.
The Reward
Yes, joy in the workplace is an extension of our Advent joy—the joy of God coming to meet us where we are. This joy enables us to build up the Kingdom of God on earth, in our hearts, and in the hearts of everyone God puts in our path. For St. Paul, “The kingdom of God is not a matter of food and drink, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).
Come, Lord Jesus!
Don’t miss Rose on the Catholic Women Lead podcast with CWIB Co-President and Editor-in-Chief Taryn DeLong, talking all about joy, Advent, and more. Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Rose Folsom teaches people leadership skills that business schools don’t teach them. Virtues like patience, forgiveness, and courage are the foundation of good leadership and make us confident leaders that people trust, respect, and want to follow. Download Rose’s “Top 10 Tips for Patience.” Her experience as solopreneur and supervisor and her study of Thomistic theology have made her passionate about helping you live a virtuous life that gives you the peace and joy that support your mission and purpose.