This article started as a germ of an idea back when I was in college working as a research assistant for the social psychology professor, Dr. Phil Brickman, who was studying happiness.

Yet, it was Marcel the Therapy Dog who finally inspired me to write about hedonic leaders and workers all these decades later. Marcel loves to work. His job is simple; he basically stands, sits, or lies down as people pet him. As they stroke him, they release stress and tension as well as co-regulate their nervous system with him.

Besides feeling calmer, the humans petting Marcel — as well as Marcel — also experience joy as they get boosts of “happy hormones.” These hormones help promote positive feelings, including happiness and pleasure. I’ve nicknamed Marcel a “hedonic worker” in honor of Phil who coined the term “hedonic treadmill” with a colleague.

My point of view is that more of us can be hedonic leaders and workers by looking for and finding genuine joy and satisfaction in our work. That is, we can gain intrinsic rewards from the act of working and enjoy spreading joy to others.

In this Forbes Coaches Council article, How hedonic leaders boost joy, results and well -being in the workplace, published online on April 1, 2025, I explain how three mindset shifts can propel you toward becoming more hedonic. I also describe in more detail what hedonic leaders and workers do well.

As I’ve learned from Marcel, Phil, and other hedonic workers and leaders I’ve interacted with over the years, joy is more than a side effect. Being joyful improves our well-being, relationships and performance.

And I hope you’ll be inspired to add more joy to your work and to your life.