Joy as a Leadership Resource: Lessons from Life with Focs

When we speak about leadership and coaching, we often default to concepts like strategy, resilience, performance, or transformation. These are all important — but one quality that rarely makes it onto the list is joy.

Joy is often seen as a “nice to have,” something that happens outside of work, maybe on vacation or in private life. But what if joy was not only a byproduct, but an essential resource for effective leadership and coaching?

I didn’t fully appreciate this until I started living, training, and simply being with Focs — my dog, my running companion, and, in many ways, my teacher.

The underestimated power of joy

In leadership, the pressure to deliver results often crowds out softer qualities. Seriousness is rewarded, while joy is sometimes mistaken for frivolity. But I’ve learned that joy is not about being superficial or ignoring problems. It’s about finding energy, presence, and connection — even in challenging moments.

Every time I step outside with Focs, he reminds me: joy can be simple, immediate, and deeply grounding. A wagging tail, the sparkle in his eyes when he sees a ball, or the way he insists on pausing during a run to simply take in the world. Those moments have taught me that joy is not an interruption to performance — it’s the fuel that sustains it.

Presence and play: recharging through joy

One of the clearest lessons Focs has given me is about presence. Dogs don’t think about yesterday’s mistakes or tomorrow’s deadlines. They are here, now — fully immersed in the present moment.

When I run with him, there’s a natural rhythm: his steady breathing, the sound of paws hitting the ground, the occasional playful tug when he wants to explore a different path. These moments are simple, but they recharge me in ways no meeting or strategy paper ever could.

For leaders, joy works the same way. Allowing moments of play, lightness, and presence gives us and our teams the space to recharge. It sharpens focus, prevents burnout, and creates the kind of energy that makes creativity possible.

Trust and connection: joy deepens relationships

Training Focs hasn’t always been easy. There were times when I wanted quick results, only to realize that patience and trust cannot be rushed. What I noticed, though, is that progress comes fastest when the relationship is built on connection and play.

When I approach him with joy — relaxed, encouraging, sometimes even laughing at the chaos — he responds with trust and openness. The same is true in leadership and coaching.

A joyful presence makes it easier for people to connect. It lowers defenses, builds psychological safety, and invites authenticity. Joy doesn’t replace authority or competence — it amplifies them by showing the human side of leadership.

Resilience and perspective: choosing joy in challenges

Life with Focs also taught me that joy can be a deliberate choice, especially when things are tough. There were days when training didn’t go as planned, when I felt tired or frustrated. Yet, even then, his ability to find joy — in a stick, in the rain, in simply being outside — shifted my perspective.

In leadership, challenges are unavoidable. But choosing joy doesn’t mean ignoring reality. It means staying resourceful, creative, and grounded despite it. Leaders who can access joy in difficult times bring a sense of hope and perspective that teams need most when the pressure is high.

Joy as part of Secure Base Leadership

One of the foundations of my coaching and leadership philosophy is Secure Base Leadership: being a leader who combines care and dare. Joy is part of that.

Care without joy can become heavy. Dare without joy can feel harsh. But when joy is present, care becomes energizing, and dare becomes inspiring. Joy creates the emotional foundation where people can grow, explore, and even make mistakes — because the environment feels safe and alive.

Closing: Bringing joy into leadership

Living and training with Focs has made one thing clear: joy is not a distraction from serious leadership. It is a serious resource. It fuels presence, deepens trust, and strengthens resilience.

As leaders and coaches, we should ask ourselves:

• Where do I find joy in my daily life?

• How can I bring more of it into my leadership?

• How can joy help my team flourish, not just perform?

For me, the answer often starts with a walk, a run, or a playful moment with Focs.

And from there, it flows into the way I show up as a coach and leader.

Because in the end, joy isn’t just for weekends or vacations. It’s one of the most powerful resources we can bring into our work — for ourselves, for our teams, and for the people we lead.

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