Despite the social work profession's strengths orientation, research on its workforce tends to focus on problems (e.g., depression, problem drinking, compassion fatigue, and burnout). In contrast, this study explored ways in which social workers find joy in their work. We used an appreciative inquiry approach, semistructured interviews (n = 26), and a collaborative grounded theory method of analysis. Participants identified interpersonal (making connections and making a difference) and intrapersonal (making meaning and making a life) sources of joy and reflected significant personal initiative in the process of finding joy. The focus of this article is on the interpersonal sources of joy of making connections and making a difference. We discuss implications for social work practice.
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