Joy as Strategy [The Overlooked Driver of High Performance]

Have you ever noticed how time seems to disappear when you’re doing something you genuinely enjoy?

Maybe it’s painting, video editing, cooking, or working on a personal project. You lose track of hours, with no deadlines, no pressure, and no reward, just pure focus and satisfaction.

That’s what psychologists call flow: the mental state where productivity feels natural and effortless. In those moments, you don’t need motivation; you’re simply absorbed in the work.

But here’s the real question:
Why don’t we experience that same energy, excitement, and drive with the things that actually matter, like our jobs or personal goals?

The Enjoyment Gap in Productivity

One of the biggest barriers to consistent performance is simple: we don’t always enjoy what we do.

And that’s okay. Not every task can be fun or exciting. But research in motivation psychology (particularly Self-Determination Theory by Deci & Ryan) shows that intrinsic motivation, doing something because you enjoy it, consistently leads to higher engagement, creativity, and long-term performance than extrinsic motivation, doing it for rewards or fear of consequences.

As a productivity and performance coach, I’ve seen this pattern over and over again.
The most productive professionals aren’t necessarily the most disciplined. They’re the ones who’ve learned to align their work with what they genuinely enjoy.

That’s one reason I became both a full time coach and a tech entrepreneur: I love doing both. Most days, it doesn’t feel like work. The same was true in my last corporate role at Shell. It was fulfilling because it blended my love for coaching and technology.

But what happens when you don’t enjoy what you do and you can’t just walk away?

That’s a reality for many professionals. And I’ve been there too.

How I Thrived in a Role I Didn’t Love

Years ago, I found myself in a job that wasn’t aligned with my strengths or interests. It was an core engineering role that required a lot of fieldwork, something that didn’t energize me.

Yet, despite that, I became one of the top performers on the team. Here’s how:

1. I made a conscious decision to enjoy it.
Your mindset shapes your motivation. Research shows that reframing your relationship with work, focusing on learning and growth instead of obligation, boosts engagement and satisfaction. So I chose to approach the role as an opportunity to stretch myself rather than endure it.

2. I integrated what I loved into the role.
Even though it wasn’t a tech role, I found ways to use my tech skills. I automated repetitive tasks and trained my colleagues, bringing coaching and technology (two things I love) into my daily work.

3. I had an open conversation with my boss.
I shared where I could create the most value. Together, we restructured my tasks so I focused more on office-based projects, where I could leverage my strengths. That shift increased my performance and reduced frustration.

4. I repaid the trust with results.
When your manager supports you, deliver excellence. I performed so well that my boss could confidently justify the flexibility I received, and the leadership team was satisfied with the results.

That experience taught me something powerful:

How You Can Apply This

If you’re currently in a role you don’t enjoy, you might not be able to change your job immediately, but you can change how you engage with it.

Here are a few strategies I recommend to my coaching clients:

✅ Reframe your mindset – Look for meaning or mastery in what you do. Ask, “What skill can I develop here that will serve me later?”
✅ Bring your strengths to the task – Integrate what excites you into your role.
✅ Communicate with your manager – Be honest about what energizes you and how you can add value.
✅ Reward trust with excellence – When you’re given flexibility, deliver results that speak for themselves.

You don’t have to love everything you do, but you should aim to do more of what you love. Because when work feels meaningful and enjoyable, motivation becomes sustainable and productivity feels effortless.

Final Thought

High performance isn’t about working harder. It’s about aligning better.
When your daily actions match your strengths, interests, and purpose, productivity stops being a struggle and starts becoming your natural rhythm.

That’s when work feels less like a grind and more like growth.

💬 I’d love to hear from you:
Have you ever found a way to make a task or role you didn’t enjoy more engaging?
Hit reply and share your experience. I might feature it in a future edition!