Acknowledgments xi Foreword xiii Introduction 1 Why joy matters to me 1 Joy at work 3 People, praise, and purpose 4 Joy, justice, and a better world 5 The future of joy at work 6 Who you’ll hear from in this book 7 Who this book is for 9 Chapter 1 Why Business Leaders Should Prioritize Joy at Work 11 Joy is your biggest business opportunity 11 Joy powers execution 13 Joy is critical for all kinds of business 15 Joy is the foundation for many key business metrics 15 Chapter 2 What the Research Tells Us About Joy 21 The joy gap is real 21 The joy gap is growing 23 We know what triggers joy at work 24 We know what’s holding us back from joy 26 Section One The Three Drivers of Joy at Work 29 Chapter 3 People 31 Create belonging: It matters more than money 33 Create connection points 35 Be a people-focused leader 38 Think like a gardener and create “human magic” 40 Chapter 4 Praise 43 Praise autonomous work 44 Pair praise with feedback 45 Focus on the quality of praise, not the quantity 46 Praise individuals, not just groups 46 Encourage people to show appreciation for their colleagues 47 Use praise to underscore impact 48 Chapter 5 Purpose 51 Understand your ikigai (a reason for being) 52 Find your zest 54 Rethink the corporate purpose statement 55 Mind the gap 56 Personalize purpose 57 Section Two Joy in a Post-2020 World: How to Create More Joy 63 Chapter 6 Joy in the Hard Times 65 Embrace change 66 Accept that failure is inevitable 67 Acknowledge your mistakes and get real 67 Have the courage to be a beginner 69 Take time to reflect 71 Double down on purpose 71 Keep chasing your goosebumps 73 Chapter 7 Safe, Seen, Supported, Inspired 75 Safe 75 Seen 79 Supported 81 Inspired 84 Chapter 8 Virtual and Hybrid Work 89 Be aware of how remote work is different than in-person work 90 Make conscious decisions about where you’ll work 91 Find new ways to build connection 93 Rethink how you measure performance 95 Stay open to change 95 Chapter 9 Social Justice and Joy 97 Joy and justice for all 98 How do we push “social justice” into the mainstream of business? 101 Hope for the future 112 Section Three What’s Next for Joy at Work? 115 Chapter 10 The Joy of Innovation 117 Leapfrog your legacy 117 Look for new ideas in unexpected places 118 Stay at the edge 120 Empower people to innovate 121 Look at purpose through the lens of innovation 121 Chapter 11 The Next Generation of Joy at Work 123 Pass the baton 123 Join the “Great Resignation”—or is it the “Great Reflection”? 124 Shift the balance of power 127 Keep your promises 128 Put your values into action 129 Make culture a nonnegotiable 129 Rethink old trade-offs 130 Accept change as a constant 133 Conclusion 135 About the Author 137 Index 139

PRAISE FOR JOY WORKS “Alex Liu’s brilliance as a leader stems from his intentionality in creating a culture of belonging, connection, and purpose. Who wouldn’t want to work with and learn from a leader whose mission is to bring joy to the workplace?” — Jon Levy, Behavioral Scientist; New York Times bestselling author; Founder, Influence Labs “I always believed that our role as leaders is to create and foster an environment where every individual can perform at their maximum potential. This book has inspired me to now believe our role is to bring joy!” — Domenic Pilla, Former President and CEO, McKesson Canada; Former President and CEO, Shoppers Drug Mart “Alex Liu brings joy back into the workplace. Alex and I agree that simply doing work to get paid or complete a task is no longer sufficient, that we must find meaning in our work and lead with humanity. Leaders who prioritize this idea can unleash ‘human magic’ and create irrationally good outcomes. I hope all leaders and their teams can be inspired by Alex’s book and embrace the idea that creating joy is an important part of our everyday roles.” — Hubert Joly, Former Chairman and CEO, Best Buy; bestselling author, The Heart of Business