Enjoyment at work as a leadership tool

As a leader in an organisation, the employees are the foundation itself. It is the people behind the roles who create value every day. Without them there is no organisation, no production and no delivery.

A good leader therefore needs to be attentive, to create good conditions and to carry a solid dose of optimism. A leader needs to be able to create room for enjoyment at work. But how?

“Being able to offer a laugh, lighten a situation or share a warm joke can build a sense of community and lower the stress level in a group.”

Annelie, speaker on enjoyment at work at Helo

Employees are central to an organisation

Employees are the experts in their own fields. The leader’s task is instead to show direction, create the conditions and keep the focus on the goals. But getting people to want to come along is rarely about steering and control. It is about something far more human: being listened to, finding meaning in your work and experiencing enjoyment at work.

A good leader therefore needs to be attentive, to create good conditions and to carry a solid dose of optimism.

And this is where enjoyment at work comes in.

What is enjoyment at work?

When we enjoy ourselves at work, something happens in the body. We begin to release endorphins — the body’s own feel-good hormones. They work rather like a natural mood lifter. Endorphins can reduce stress, dampen pain and create a sense of energy and wellbeing. The result is often that we think more clearly, collaborate better and feel more engaged in what we do.

This is what we call enjoyment at work.

And it shows in the organisation.

Motivation and creativity rise, people dare to contribute more, and the workplace is simply a nicer place to be. Enjoyment at work is contagious —

and that is a contagion most employers want.

It also affects how the organisation is seen from outside. Workplaces where people are happy become attractive employers.

Does humour matter?

Humour is a wonderful tool in leadership, but as with everything else it is a question of balance. Being able to offer a laugh, lighten a situation or share a warm joke can build a sense of community and lower the stress level in a group.

At the same time the humour needs to be inclusive and respectful. As a manager it is important to stay professional. Humour should never come at someone else’s expense, and irony is easily misread — particularly in hierarchical relationships.

The best humour in leadership is often the kind built on warmth, self-deprecation and everyday situations.

Perhaps that is where an important question begins for a manager: how much enjoyment do you allow in your leadership?

Enjoyment at work is the leader’s ace up the sleeve

When a leader dares to create an environment where people can feel well, laugh together and take pride in their work — something happens in the organisation.

And it often starts with something as simple as a smile.

Would you like support in raising enjoyment at work in your workplace?