In the hustle to meet goals and build something meaningful, it’s easy for leaders to lose something essential along the way: their joy.
I’ve felt it myself…those seasons when the pressure to finish a project drowns out the joy that inspired the mission in the first place. So many driven leaders have big visions for their teams or organizations, but they end up burned out, pushing harder each day and wondering why it no longer feels fulfilling.
The High Cost of the Grind
Leaders often sacrifice joy for what feels like short-term gain: longer hours, tighter deadlines, and pushing themselves beyond healthy limits. But over time, the cost adds up.
One book that hits this hard is “The Gap and the Gain” by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy. It warns against only measuring how far you have to go, instead of celebrating how far you’ve come. When leaders stay stuck in the gap, joy fades. They lose sight of the why behind the work and begin to run on empty.
Implement Daily Habits That Matter
For me, staying joyful doesn’t happen by accident. It takes intention and rhythm:
- Quiet time in prayer and Scripture to recentralize my heart.
- Laughing with friends who let me be me—no expectations.
- Fully unplugging with my family, even when the to-do list is long.
These moments don’t just replenish me—they remind me that I am more than my output.
Practical Ways to Reclaim Joy
If you’re feeling the weight of the daily grind, here are three ways to reset:
- Remember why you started. Reconnect with the purpose behind your work.
- Step back and look at the progress. Don’t just chase the next goal—celebrate the growth.
- Run your own race. Stop measuring your pace against someone else’s journey.
When a leader is joyful, their enthusiasm is contagious. It creates energy, momentum, and resilience for the whole team. Joy isn’t a distraction from performance—it’s a driver of it.
If this resonates, share it with a fellow leader who might need a reset. And if you’re ready to build a more joyful, purpose-driven leadership rhythm, I’d love to support you. Message me at www.mcclurecoaching.com/contact to schedule a time to talk.
Here are three resources that can help you:
- The Way to Greatness book – Discover the five continual choices that lead to The GREAT Life and how to implement them immediately.
- The GREAT Life Bootcamp video course – In this self-paced course, I’ll guide you to learn how to experience the life you were created to live by improving your faith, relationships, mindset, stewardship, and time management. (Enter coupon code “MM50” at checkout to receive a subscriber-only 50% discount!)
- Magnetic Mondays leadership newsletter – Level up your leadership in only 3 minutes per week.