Work is one way people share experiences, become part of a community, and feel fulfilled and purposeful.
David Schmittlein – MIT School of Management
Walk around the cubes at work and look closely at what VUCANs have on their desks, pictures of loved ones and maybe a religious symbol during COVID time. Is this the latest fad at work or is a lasting phenomenon? Well, it’s estimated that 80% of employees engage in workplace contemplation or spiritual practice.
Finding meaning at work can mean different things to VUCANs such as supporting corporate social responsibility, working on global warming, giving back, supporting family leave, fighting for social justice, improving society, saving the world, or putting food on the table.
Finding meaning at work is much like finding a calling in life such as being a chaplain or nurse. Finding meaning, spirit, and the soul of the workplace is not pure altruism. It’s often a reaction to toxic workplaces, lack of social justice, lack of job security, changing employer-employee contract, and unmet expectations. Many want more out of work as well as a paycheck.
So how does meaningful work start? Meaningful work emerges from the relationship you have with the work you do. If you go to work just to make money, chances are that you’ll reach saturation point relatively quickly and then you’ll need to find other rewards from the work you do. Meaningful work is a mutual benefit to you and your employer. Your employer wants to capture your engagement, spirit, value, ideas, innovation, and energy. Work can be fun, social, or even cool. Work has meaning. If your employer can help you find meaning at work, it’s a mutually beneficial relationship.
If you’re actively engaged with the outcome of what you do, then there’s a higher chance that you’ll be engaged and find your work meaningful. It’s critical to know your meaning of work and is the relationship between what you do, how you do it, and the outcomes you obtain.
Work Lesson Earned: If you aren’t engaged in what you do and can’t see any relationship between what you do and the outcome, there’s a high probability that you won’t find meaning at work, ultimately be dissatisfied and move on.