The Joy deficit at work.

...and how to fix it

There’s a quiet epidemic spreading through workplaces — and it’s not burnout or turnover. It’s something deeper: a joy deficit. We’ve traded connection for efficiency, and play for productivity. We’ve optimized every process but lost the spark that makes work worth doing.

You can feel it in the tone of meetings, the heaviness of Monday mornings, and the sense that even good people are running on empty.

But joy isn’t a luxury. It’s fuel. And when joy disappears, so does energy, creativity, and collaboration.

The Data Behind the Deficit

Gallup reports that fewer than 1 in 4 employees feel engaged at work. That means 75% are just showing up — not fully alive, not connected. The cost of disengagement? Lost productivity, missed ideas, and team friction.

But joy is more than engagement. It’s emotional oxygen — the feeling that you’re valued, that what you do matters, and that it’s OK to laugh, connect, and be human.

The Science of Joy at Work

Neuroscience tells us that joy releases dopamine and oxytocin — chemicals that build trust, empathy, and motivation. When people play, connect, and make each other’s day, their brains open up to creativity and problem-solving.

Joy isn’t about ping-pong tables or pizza parties. It’s about feeling safe enough to bring your whole self to work.

How the FISH! Philosophy Restores Joy

The FISH! Philosophy offers a simple, human framework for bringing joy back into the workplace:

Play: It’s not silliness — it’s curiosity in motion. It’s how we reawaken creativity and lighten heavy spaces.
Make Their Day: Joy multiplies when shared. Small, genuine gestures of appreciation ripple through teams.
Be There: Joy can’t exist without presence. Listening deeply and showing up for one another rebuilds trust.
Choose Your Attitude: Joy begins with ownership. Every day is a chance to choose how we show up for others.

When teams live these practices daily, joy stops being accidental — it becomes cultural.

Joy Is a Business Strategy

Companies that build joyful cultures don’t just feel better — they perform better. They innovate more, retain longer, and recover faster from setbacks. Joy attracts talent, keeps customers loyal, and fuels purpose.

The smartest leaders in the world are realizing: joy isn’t soft — it’s strategic.

Your Invitation

If your team feels tired, heavy, or disconnected, it’s not because they don’t care — it’s because they’ve run out of joy.

Let’s change that.
Book a FISH! conversation with Suzie and explore how joy can become your competitive edge.

👉 Visit with Suzie or Email Suzie

Find out what Southwest Airlines, Harley Davidson, John Deere, McDonalds, The Home Depot and so many others have learned from FISH! Joy works.