4 ingredients for pleasure
NYC-based restaurateur Will Guidara shares four ingredients that lead to a pleasurable experience in the workplace.
First is safety. This includes physical and psychological safety. One way to think of psychological safety is knowing what to expect - the when, where, and how. This allows for an automatic ease of experience.
Will adds, "Consistency is one of the most important and underrated aspects of being a leader. A person can't feel safe at work if they're apprehensive about what version of their manager they're going to encounter on any given day.”
Second is fun. This means people are having a good time. Fun brings a touch of novelty and positive energy. It makes the experience enjoyable. An added benefit to fun is that it helps our brains learn and gain skills more efficiently.
Third is interesting. Humans are wired for learning, which is typically driven by curiosity. When our experience is interesting, it keeps our minds curiously engaged. We feel accomplished in the activity, whether it is to figure out a solution, to perform a challenging achievement, or to understand how something works.
Fourth is meaning. Will says, “It feels great to make other people feel good.” That is a simple, yet excellent, point. Being of service for others feels great. We feel more of that pleasurable reward when we know deeply why and how our work is important.
Considering these four ingredients reminds me that pleasure is not a nice-to-have in a workplace. It is fundamental to the success of any business.
When we find pleasure in our work, our best work emerges. When we do our best work, the quality of our product improves. This results in customer satisfaction and ultimately a flourishing business.
This chain reaction is no different in the arts.
We need these four ingredients in our rehearsal and performance spaces: safety, fun, interesting, and meaning. Taking care of our people and their work experience is a crucial way to achieve sustainability in our business.
How could you infuse your musical workplace with these four ingredients?
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