GET PAID TO PLAY

By Doris Helge, Ph.D. © 2008

Syndicated Columnist

Joy on the Job Coach

Most of us are as cranky as a crocodile in a holding pen when we work over 50 hours a week. When we work on a holiday, we long to burst out of the cage of our office.

What if you held an “extreme job,” a position in which you routinely worked 60-80 hours a week? Month after month, “extreme employees” work under intense pressure with tight deadlines. They juggle responsibilities that normally span two or more jobs.

Sound awful? Recent studies regarding extreme jobs have produced startling conclusions.

Extreme employees, more often than not, love their jobs. When outrageous hours are paired with extraordinary rewards, workers report their jobs are thrilling.

They are as passionate as a missionary with a vision. Their jobs are all consuming.

“Fine,” you may be muttering, “But wait until they miss a vacation.” That’s another surprise.

Although the interviewees in the studies had plenty of opportunities to vacation, most only took a few days off a year. Some shunned vacations all together.

Was this the result of tyrannical employers?

No . . . Most of the interviewees reported that the challenges of their work were so fulfilling that work was like play. Extreme employees are similar to athletes training for the Olympics 16 hours a day, seven days a week.

Extreme employees are happy working 60-80 hours a week because they’re challenged, creative and work with a team they enjoy. They’re well compensated and they receive recognition.

Notice the order of the reasons for their joy on the job. Neither compensation nor recognition are the number one reason these hard-working individuals stay on the treadmill instead of departing to less-demanding positions.

More important factors include intellectual stimulation and the opportunity to work with high-quality colleagues. Neither power nor status are the greatest key to happiness at work for the majority of extreme employees.

Of course, I’m not advocating a ridiculously long work week for any of us. There are too many negative consequences if we consistently ignore our needs to sleep, exercise, and nourish ourselves with quiet time, play, nature, a good diet, and enjoyable relationships. Our communities and families will also suffer if we’re preoccupied with work, week after week, month after month.

Yet, extreme employees have something to teach all of us. They’re happy working excessive hours because work has become its own reward.

They experience “flow.”  This is a condition discovered by Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi, author of Flow. When we are in a state of flow, we work very hard for the sheer joy of doing an activity we love.

Some of us climb a steep mountain so we can experience the thrill of viewing a magnificent vista. Others accomplish a tedious task at work because completion fills them with pride. It elevates their confidence and spurs them to even greater achievement.

Some people struggle to organize a group of ill-equipped volunteers to accomplish a mission. Since their personal vision is to improve the world, each small victory fills the organizer with elation.

All of us sometimes voluntarily do strenuous activities that are demanding but rewarding so we can experience joy at work. If we want more happiness, we can purposely create work experiences that are rich with meaning and personal fulfillment. 

How can you create more meaning and fulfillment on the job? Start by noticing what tasks and activities create joy on the job for you.

What challenges are difficult but doable? When do you feel proud of your work? When is your work appreciated?

Notice the conditions that help you perform your best work. Knowing when you’ll be the most productive will help you gain the support you need.

Talk to your boss about what will feed your spirit and productivity. Emphasize benefits for the organization. It’s difficult for people to turn down a request when they’ll also reap a reward.

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Doris Helge, Ph.D., is an executive coach, corporate trainer, and speaker. She is author of “Joy on the Job” and “Transforming Pain Into Power,” published in many languages. Dr. Helge hosts the “Joy on the Job” radio show and www.MoreJoyOnTheJob.com. To discover how to create more fun and fulfillment at work and boost employee retention, contact Dr. Helge at Doris@MoreJoyOnTheJob.com.

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