Let’s cut to it. You didn’t take a leadership role just to spend your days micromanaging deadlines, chasing KPIs, and putting out fires. You’re here to make things better. For your team. For the culture. For the people who count on you. But when burnout creeps in—when people start checking out instead of showing up—most leaders only see one option: push harder. That’s where we get it wrong. What we need isn’t more hustle. What we need is a better compass.
What Is the Compass of Joy?
It’s your internal GPS. The one that points you toward the kind of work that feels energizing, not depleting. Purposeful, not performative. Most teams operate with calendars full of tasks and checkboxes. But calendars don’t tell you where the real spark is hiding. That’s where the Compass of Joy comes in.
It helps individuals and teams:
- Notice what fuels them
- Shift how they show up
- Choose direction based on energy, not just urgency
And that shift—from the “Proving Ground” to the “Playground”—is where the real magic happens.
Where This All Began
If you’ve read my book Playful Rebellion: Maximize Workplace Success Through the Power of Play, you know this isn’t just a fun metaphor. The Compass of Joy is first introduced in Chapter 3, where I talk about helping teams and individuals reconnect with the parts of themselves that were once playful, present, and powerful.
It’s not a gimmick. It’s a grounded, human-centered leadership tool—one that helps people return to the work with clarity, resilience, and a sense of purpose.
Real Talk: Why This Matters
One of my clients once said something that hit me hard. We were mid-workshop, doing an improv game meant to highlight how bad we are at multitasking. Everyone was laughing. Until they weren’t. A senior leader stood up, visibly shaken. She said: “This feels too close to home. This is how I lead. I thought I was helping—but I can see now I’ve been slowing everyone down.” Her team rallied around her. They didn’t shame her. They helped her. Because we were in a playful state, her defenses were down, and her insight cut deeper.
That’s the power of joy. It doesn’t soften the truth—it makes it safe enough to hear.
How the Compass Works
The Compass of Joy is built on two practical concepts:
1. Delight Signals
These are the micro-moments that make you feel alive. When time disappears. When you feel most like yourself.
Ask yourself:
- What gave me energy today?
- What felt easy—or even fun?
- What part of my work made me forget to check my phone?
Write it down. Track it. Patterns will emerge.
Team tip: Start meetings with a “Delight Check-In.” You’ll be surprised what people share.
2. Curiosity over Control
You don’t have to map everything out. Sometimes, you just need to follow the next curious step.
Try this prompt: “If I trusted my gut, what would I explore next?”
It sounds simple. But it’s how innovation actually works. Not through pressure. Through play.
Why Leaders Struggle with Joy
Because it’s not on the KPI dashboard.
We’re taught that work must feel hard to matter. That joy is something you earn on weekends or vacations. But that mindset? It’s draining your team. The Compass of Joy helps re-center around intrinsic motivation. It doesn’t ignore the hard stuff. It simply asks: What if we didn’t have to suffer to succeed?
If You’re a Leader, Here’s the Truth:
Your team doesn’t need another offsite.
They don’t need a motivational poster or a ping pong table.
They need to feel:
- Safe
- Energized
- Seen
They need to remember what it feels like to enjoy the work, and each other.
That’s what the Compass of Joy delivers.
It’s not a perk.
It’s a strategy.
Ready to Explore Your Compass?
If you’re ready to move your team from burnout to breakthrough, let’s chat about how the Compass of Joy and Play Intelligence can help.
Let’s bring joy back to the work.