The Joy at Work Challenge

And welcome back. Well, we spend a lot of time at work, so how can we make our time there more meaningful and more enjoyable?

Right. Joining us? Just bring rabbits. That makes it more enjoyable.

Did they say the last people said.

They had a work rabbit?

I was like, we need a work rabbit.

I know. That's fantastic. We have a leadership and workplace culture expert here with us today. It's Beth Ridley. She has a fun and very easy New Year's challenge to cultivate more joy for you at work. Hi, Beth.

Hi. In case the rabbit is not practical for everybody, here's some more practical tips.

I like it.

What, you mean not every company's gon a work rabbit just in case they don't?

Well, you know, here's the thing is that people. I was reading something about how much time people spend at work. When you really look at it, so much more time often than with your spouse or maybe even your children if they're in school. We spend a lot of time at work. We should have joy there, right?

Really. Because if you don't think about it, that spills over into other aspects of your life. Because we do spend so much time at work, if we have a bad day at work, it probably spills over into our personal life. So if we can have more positivity at work, that spills over in a positive way too.

Makes sense.

Amen to all of that. Okay, so what is the joy at work challenge?

So a lot of people are saying the resolution for the new year is to really, like, love their work as opposed to just love that they have a job. There's a bit of a difference, but they don't really know how. And when you say resolution, like, I always get tired because that's like, oh, my God, one more thing to do in a busy day. So there is a lot of research around positive psychology that if you do small, small things, you are guaranteed to deepen relationships and have more positive relationships, which actually is the number one source of joy in life. And the workplace is no exception. Wow.

Number one. I like that. I think a lot of people want to get off to a strong start. And I think the idea for a lot of people of having more joy at work is very appealing, especially because it can mean having better relationships at work. Because those relationships that we have with our co workers are so key, right?

Correct. Yes, exactly. And again, we spend so much time at work, and if we can just have more positive relationships, that's going to spill over into the workday and into the home life as well.

Is that the joy at work challenge what you're holding?

Well, this is. These are challenge enablers. Right. So I want to just provide people with really super simple things that don't add time to your calendar, because who has time? And I like to say you can do them in a trice. There you go.

Way to use that word. These are positive enablers in your life. Exactly.

Right.

Yes, exactly.

As opposed to the other enablers. These are positive enablers.

It's like a deck of cards. 52 ways to better say, how are you?

That's it. 52 ways. That's once a week. And if you can do one thing once a week and kind of make it a habit in your daily interactions. So I've got three tips on things that you can do.

Yeah. Give us some examples.

All right, so the first one I really love because, again, super simple. And it's just to remember to use someone's name when you're interacting with them. Right. Someone's name is the sweetest sound.

Exactly.

So good morning, Molly. Good morning, Tiffany. Thank you, Matt. Spin that little extra. Right. It makes it like, oh, my gosh, you actually see me specifically. That is directed to me specifically, not a generic good morning. And it already makes me feel like, oh, you value and respect me. I already like you a little bit better. So it's like planting a seafarer relationship.

To remember my name first of all, but also then to use it.

Yes, absolutely. Yeah. That's a good one.

So number two, you say, let others know what you appreciate about them. So be specific, probably, and actually do.

It, especially at work. Right. So at work, at least my experience was you're always told what you're not doing good enough or what you could do better.

Constructive criticism.

That's exactly right. But it's like all day, every day, and it's like, people expect. If you're getting paid to do something. Yeah. You have to be good at it. So no one says thank you, but it's always nice to be reminded of what you do well, it encourages me to want to do better.

Right.

So I always say, like, just, you know, at the end of a meeting or something like that, just point out what someone did uniquely well, like, oh, you. You know, I love that idea that you shared, or I love the energy that you brought to the room. Anything. And it just sort of like pumps someone up and it makes them want to contribute more.

You're really good at that, Molly.

I was just getting. Well, I don't know about that, but what I was just going to say is tiff. I really appreciate the fact that you're so funny because.

Thank you.

You add levity to a lot of moments, you know, And I really appreciate that about you. You're one of the funniest people I know.

Thank you, Molly. I appreciate how thoughtful you are at all times. And Beth, I love last time you were here, you gave me this wonderful tea set and I've been digging in and loving it every time. Where did you get that? Which leads me to. My next question is asking thoughtful questions. And this is one of your tips. And I think sometimes it's hard. We have our go tos, right? Like just our basic, like, boring questions. How do you come up with more thoughtful things to ask?

Well, okay, you had that. And asking thoughtful questions. You're right. So we're so used to saying like, oh, how are you? And it's like we sort of gloss over it. It's just sort of like, you know, it's a throw. Yes. And the person answering says, fine, without thinking about it. And you move on. It takes the same amount of time to ask something like, so what's your favorite pet, by the way? Like, I had no idea that you like bunnies. But then, like, I want to ask more about that and then you share more and it already deepens the relationship. So I just say up with a more thoughtful question. I like to use, what are you streaming these days? I like that because it gives some insight into someone and I leave with a good idea that I should be streaming. Right.

Well, you know, something that I always used to do with my kids, sometimes after school or at dinner, is to say, what was the best part of your day? And then what was the worst part of your day? My youngest daughter, the last time we had a family dinner because they were just home, she said, it's better to ask somebody. On a scale 1 to 7, and there's a reason why you go 1 to 7, how would you rate your day? Then the follow up is, well, so you say it's a five. Let's say, cause I was on the morning blend, it was a blast. Then I would say, well, what could have made it a 6? Or why wasn't it a 4? Like getting a little bit deeper. But I think any question that gets a little deeper is always good. Right.

So you're not taking face value.

Absolutely right. And what a great day to kick this off. MLK day. Because his message was all about getting to know people beneath the surface. And so you have to be a little curious and again, 30 seconds. You know, instead of saying, how are you? Say, you know, how would you rate your day? Tell me a little bit more about that. People appreciate that. They'll remember that. And it goes a long way to deepen a relationship.

I'm gonna start using it in elevators.

Yeah. Oh, yeah.

Right where people don't want to be talked to.

I'm like, this our moment.

I'm like, oh, right there. Beth, you just ruined a lot of people.

Stay with me in the elevator. I want to stick with the work bunny. Tiffany. Tiffany, that's your tip. Just stick with the work bunny.

I need one of those decks right now.

I think I have one. Yeah. Yeah.

All right, here's the deal. For you to purchase a deck like we have of cards, that includes 52 better ways to ask, how are you? You can visit best website. That's ridleyconsultants.com. i love it.