Rich Sheridan, founder, CEO, and Chief Storyteller at Menlo Innovations has written his second book on leading with joy called Chief Joy Officer. He spoke at the Leaders Connect Breakfast last Friday morning, and shared how he discovered the importance of leading with joy. Click the video above to hear how Rich likens the forces that interact in our lives to the forces that enable an airplane to successfully fly:
- The Lift of Human Energy – People get energetic about things they believe in. This energy is palpable.
- The Weight of Bureaucracy – This weight can often hold us back, and can even drain the energy.
- The Thrust of Purpose – Why do we exist, and what do we believe. This sets our trajectory.
- The Drag of Fear – Fear weighs us down and holds us back. “The antidote to fear is joy.”
Rich states there are two fundamental questions a corporation should ask:
- Who do we serve? Think beyond the typical stakeholders and focus on the purpose of your service.
- What would delight look like for the company? With the end goal of being truly happy and satisfied with your work, how will you know when you have gotten there?
Further drawing on the airplane metaphor, Rich tells us that as leaders we need to consider creating “systematic organizations”:
Just as the pilot can focus on flying the plane because he is not worried about the plane itself, design a system that is positively stable so workers will be able to focus on the bigger issues.
Click here to watch the full Leaders Connect Breakfast.
Rich has given numerous talks around the world on Leading with Joy. Click here to invite him to speak to your organization or at your next event.