Syracuse Sun

What started as a sidewalk conversation turned into a popular virtual workshop. Developed in the summer of 2023 and offered numerous times since, “Five Steps to Discovering Professional Joy” has engaged numerous participants throughout the Syracuse University campus community.

“I am by no means an expert on the topic of joy, but I do recognize that our personal and professional lives are intimately intertwined, and I do wonder about how to be joyful even in the midst of challenging circumstances,” says Hendricks Chapel Dean Brian Konkol, who leads the online session. “I suppose one of the reasons the workshop has become popular is that each participant is welcomed as an authority of their experience, together we discover how to perceive those experiences in different ways, and together we discern how professional achievement and personal joy can best grow together.”

When talking about how to find joy in professional life, Konkol begins with the image of an old-school thermostat.

Konkol uses a thermostat metaphor to teach about joy.

“I think it’s a powerful image and recognizes that each and every one of us—as leaders, as professionals—are thermostats,” he says. “A thermometer only takes the temperature, but a thermostat is about changing the conditions that offer an environment by which you and others can thrive. It’s about putting your hand on the dial and changing the temperature, to create the conditions that move a couple of degrees towards joy.”

Konkol offers one-hour virtual workshops for members of the campus community—from faculty and staff to alumni—on how to find joy in their daily work. He will offer the workshop again on Tuesday, Sept. 4 from noon to 1 p.m. (in partnership with the Office of Human Resources) and in January (in partnership with the Office of Alumni Engagement).

Through teachings from various leaders such as the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu’s collaboration on “The Book of Joy,” Konkol shows participants how joy differs from happiness. He explains: “Happiness is often temporary and based on something happening to you, while joy is about sustained purpose and meaning, including during difficulties. I suppose happiness is a moment and joy is more of a movement.”

During his most recent workshop, Konkol offered participants five steps for finding professional joy:

1. Stop hoping for a better past.

“So many of us have watched ‘Back to the Future’ movies and ever since have been praying for a time machine! We can learn from our past but not change it.”

2. Choose to be kind anyway.

“We cannot control how others act but can control our response; kindness requires strength.”

Konkol tells stories like that of Steve Wilkinson at Gustavus Adolphus College who said: "You can't control what people serve you but can control what you return." He also references George Saunders' speech on kindness at Syracuse University’s 2013 Commencement.

3. Replace “but” with “and.”

“There’s no ‘but,’ it’s ‘and.’ We can experience multiple emotions simultaneously without apologizing for them.”

He describes standing between two ampersands at Hendricks Chapel: "Instead of either/or, we can embrace both/and."

4. Be a role model, not a role mirror.

“Modeling positive behavior creates lasting change rather than mirroring existing conditions.”

5. Call people in instead of calling people out.

“Welcome people into conversations instead of excluding them; engage with curiosity rather than judgment.”

At his presentation's conclusion, Konkol suggests writing out a "to-be" list instead of a "to-do" list: “A ‘to-be’ list allows us to live intentionally.”

“I’m convinced that each person can turn that dial," Konkol concludes. "Becoming thermostats brings some joy into our lives so all around us can adjust their dials towards professional joy."

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