April is Volunteer Appreciation Month.
On my development team is our volunteer services department and I saw something today in a professional director that I have never seen before. At the end of a very successful volunteer awards day, after being covid-safe and socially-distanced, in the most momentous moment the volunteer director did a ballet twirl three times in the lobby in front of the assembled staff. As we all stood in awe of her prowess, we realized that she was not only celebrating the end of a busy day, but her joy in working with volunteers.
While joy may not be a leadership skill, Dr. Michael J. Zappa states, "Focusing on joy, especially in work, is gaining momentum. It has my attention! It is clear to me that the mindset and habits are exactly what great leaders have and do and what developing leaders should concentrate on." (www.mikezappa.com)
10 LEADERSHIP SKILLS THAT PROMOTE JOY IN WORK
Be a role model.
Show humility and fallibility.
Encourage and seek participation from your team.
Align daily goals with organizational purpose.
Put a human face with the mission of those being served.
Identify barriers to success and help remove them.
Have a report card and share it.
Recognize your rising stars and celebrate often.
Stay visible and connected.
Start individual conversations with: “What matter most to you at work?”
Incorporating these skills will cultivate the joy in you and inspire your entire team (www.mikezappa.com)
Oxford dictionary defines ‘joy as happiness…so in the words of Mahatma Gandhi:
Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do, are in harmony.
As in anything, even in leadership development, actions need to be intentional. I learned this years ago during a very dark time in my life. One day I was shopping in my favorite thrift store, and while it might sound crazy to you, I was praying. "Lord show me a sign." I was looking for something that would encourage me to be happy. To let me know everything was going to be ok. That I was going to be ok.
As I rounded the shelf, there was a sign! Literally a sign!! It read...Choose Joy. As I picked up the simple wooden sign I almost wept. Choose Joy. Simple. Direct. Intentional.
Displaying the sign in my bathroom, I am reminded daily to Choose Joy. While my darkness turned to light, I am still reminded to Choose Joy. To be intentional in my choices as a leader and person.
I invite you to look for your sign. Whether it be volunteerism, leadership or simply joy. Let what you do today be intentional.
What She Said ~ Beverly
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