This is the time of year that we tend to take stock in our lives, what we contribute to the world, and what we are grateful for. I try to do that periodically because I often get busy with a myriad of things and forget to be grateful for the gifts I have been given and the people in my life.
But about a month ago, I was forced to really look deep and try to figure out where in my life and in my work I find joy. I was asked by the Greater Boston Nursing Collective to give the keynote address at their annual meeting on “The Joy of Leadership.” Now, some of you might say that this phrase is an oxymoron, like “jumbo shrimp” or “bittersweet.” Can we really put “joy” and “leadership” in the same phrase? Is there joy in being a leader and if so, where is it found? I was challenged to reflect and articulate where I find joy in my role as a leader.
I have been in leadership roles for many years and I have found these roles to be exciting, energizing, and professionally rewarding. I really never needed to articulate where I find joy in the leadership roles I had, so this process was a new one for me. After some deep reflection and quite a bit of self- assessment, I came up with five different areas that account for a significant degree of the joy I experience as a leader.
Engaging with people: In my many years as a leader, the thing I love most are the interactions I have with faculty, staff, and students. The ability to engage in thoughtful discussion, or hear a different perspective, or even challenge one another, is such a gift we as academics have. Being with students and colleagues are the best times by far for me as a leader.
Being able to support other people’s success: As a leader, I find incredible joy in helping others reach their professional goals. Being able to take away the barriers to success that sometimes impede the work of faculty or staff is very gratifying. I have long felt that the success of one member of the team is the team’s success.
Giving of myself through mentoring: For me this includes both formal and informal mentoring. Being open and honest and generous with my time is sometimes challenging but the rewards are significant.
Maintaining my core values: As I reflected on my career, the most “unjoyous” times as a leader were the times when I compromised my core values. These were times when I felt my thinking was disorganized, I was uncomfortable in my own skin, and disconnected in some way. Maintaining my core values, even in difficult situations and against pressure, is challenging. But when I do, I have felt that I had clarity of thought and a sense of calm, even in turbulent water.
Learning: I have often wondered what my life would have been like if I had chosen to work in an environment other than academia. The opportunity, in fact the expectation, that we are engaged in a lifelong process of learning and discovery has been a joy in my life. In what other career can you have the choice of attending multiple lectures in the course of the day, be encouraged to attend educational seminars, and have scholarship as part of your role? There is something very wonderful about being in academia.
Being able to recognize and know what brings me joy as a leader has been an interesting process. I was grateful for the challenge to explore this aspect of my career and enjoyed sharing my perspective with the conference attendees and now with you. I hope you examine your own role and see where you find joy in what you do.