What Do I Really Love to Do? (HBR Podcast)

College football season prompts discussions about job satisfaction and finding joy in work. Author Marcus Buckingham emphasizes the importance of identifying tasks that energize individuals, suggesting that fulfillment can be found even in seemingly mundane jobs. He shares insights from his extensive research, highlighting that many people derive joy from their work by focusing on specific aspects that resonate with them, such as mentoring or creative problem-solving.

Buckingham argues that the first step to enhancing job satisfaction is not to quit but to recognize and cultivate the activities that bring joy. He encourages individuals to pay attention to their daily experiences, identifying "red threads"—the moments that excite and engage them. He outlines practical strategies for this self-discovery, including keeping a journal to track what they love and loathe about their work.

The conversation also addresses the potential pitfalls of focusing solely on personal passions, warning against neglecting necessary skills that may not align with one's interests. Buckingham advocates for a balanced approach, where individuals can pursue their passions while remaining open to growth opportunities. Ultimately, he frames career development as a scavenger hunt for joy, urging people to seek out fulfilling experiences in their current roles or consider new opportunities if their needs are not being met.

What Do I Really Love to Do? (HBR Podcast)Uploaded 05-05-225 May 2022---Part two of our four-part special series, Find Joy in Any Job, with Marcus Buckingham on how to design your work to focus on what you love.At a time when 41% of us are considering quitting our jobs, it’s time for us to understand why and what we can do about it.In this special series from HBR’s IdeaCast, we’re looking at how to craft your current job around the work you really love. In this episode, we’ll explain how to identify which tasks fit that bill and can lead you to a more fulfilling and successful career.IdeaCast co-host Alison Beard speaks with Marcus Buckingham, head of research on people and performance at the ADP Research Institute and author of the new book Love + Work.Listen to all Find Joy in Any Job episodes here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzAU8TPKsJub1TwtUIBDKN28fnTNtQBq8You can also listen to this episode on HBR.org, and wherever you listen to podcasts: - HBR.org (transcript available here): https://hbr.org/podcast/2022/04/find-joy-in-any-job-what-do-i-really-love-to-do - Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/find-joy-in-any-job-what-do-i-really-love-to-do/id152022135?i=1000557607723 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7kVUNadUf1qzVPuJ08OEud - Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/hbr-ideacast/episode/find-joy-in-any-job-what-do-i-really-love-to-do-202370763 - Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLmhhcnZhcmRidXNpbmVzcy5vcmcvaGFydmFyZGJ1c2luZXNzL2lkZWFjYXN0/episode/dGFnOmF1ZGlvLmhici5vcmcsMjAwNi0wNS0wODppZGVhY2FzdC4wODUx?sa=X&ved=0CAUQkfYCahgKEwiw_eOE9bn3AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQ7yM Series Description: HBR IdeaCast’s Find Joy in Any Job is a special four-part series with renowned management thinker Marcus Buckingham. At a time when 41% of us are considering quitting our current roles, we'll offer a better solution: a way to improve them. We'll capture voices from workers around the world and explore why so many feel unhappy and disengaged. We'll explain how to pinpoint the aspects of work that you do (or could) love and how to shift your responsibilities to those areas. Finally, we'll discuss how to build a team and organization full of people who love what they do. Marcus is the head of research on people and performance at the ADP Research Institute and author of the new book Love + Work (as well as co-author of the best-selling Nine Lies About Work). He'll be joined by IdeaCast co-host Alison Beard. About Harvard Business Review: Harvard Business Review is the leading destination for smart management thinking. Through its flagship magazine, books, and digital content and tools published on HBR.org, Harvard Business Review aims to provide professionals around the world with rigorous insights and best practices to help lead themselves and their organizations more effectively and to make a positive impact. Learn more at www.hbr.org. Chapters:00:00 Open00:22 Intro02:24 Find Things You Love in Any Job 08:07 Finding – and Focusing On – What You Love About Your Job10:24 Loves Leads to Practice Leads to Performance13:22 What’s Your Wyrd?16:00 Look for Clues and Keep Track18:41 Articulate What You Love and Loathe 21:35 Love is Fuel for Learning27:23 Your Career is a Scavenger HuntFollow Harvard Business Review:https://hbr.org/https://www.linkedin.com/company/harvard-business-review/https://www.facebook.com/HBR/https://twitter.com/HarvardBizhttps://www.instagram.com/harvard_business_reviewSign up for Newsletters: https://hbr.org/email-newsletters#HarvardBusinessReview #Joy #JobCopyright © 2022 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices