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5 ways to make joy a core KPI
Liz Matthews , SVP of global brand and creative at Dell Technologies , and Amy Jo Martin , founder and CEO of Renegade Global , discuss infusing happiness into your work .
Key performance indicators ( KPIs ) are foundational to most jobs . These useful measurements help companies understand progress over time . But beyond revenue growth and profit margin , there ’ s one KPI some managers overlook : joy .
How happy are your employees ? Perhaps more importantly , what ’ s your own level of joy in your job ? At Dell Technologies and at Renegade Global — a consulting practice that helps people invest in their personal brand and growth — we see the people in our businesses , not just the professionals .
Here are five steps for boosting the oftenoverlooked KPI of joy :
1 . Make play nonnegotiable .
Play goes hand in hand with curiosity , which in turn fuels engagement . When you prioritize play , you combat opposing feelings of burnout and even depression .
2 . Diversify your sources of happiness .
There are different kinds of happiness : “ rock star ,” which you might experience after a big win ; “ flow ,” which happens when you ’ re caught up in something you enjoy ; and “ higher purpose ,” which occurs when you focus on something bigger than yourself . You need all three .
3 . Avoid the three Ps .
Three Ps top the list of common pitfalls people face at work : perfectionism ( seeking an unattainable standard ), people-pleasing ( never putting yourself first ) and personalizing ( making things “ about you ”). Be sure to give yourself — and others — the grace to make mistakes . Prioritize your own needs and remember that not everything is personal .
4 . Overcome difficult conversations .
Effective communication is an art form . When you have a difficult conversation ahead , consider taking the following steps :
• Vent to a neutral third party ( not colleagues ) to release tension .
• Empathize with the other person ’ s perspective .
• Rehearse what you want to say .
• Ask for what you need — then stop talking .
5 . Check in weekly .
Here at Dell and within Renegade Global , we have seen great results with weekly check-ins , asking questions such as , Which activities did I love ? Which ones did I loathe ? What are my priorities ? What help do others need from me ?
With these tips in mind , you can transcend clichés about work-life balance and make joy a core KPI of your job . ■
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