Meaningful Work Begins With Asking “What’s the Point?”
Have you ever asked yourself, “What’s the point of doing this job?”—a question that goes to the heart of meaningful work. Even those employed in what is considered the perfect jobs, have a point in time where there is a pause and reflection on “What’s the point?” Perhaps after a bad day, a meeting not going as planned, a loss, office politics, or a missed deadline. At one point in our professional life, we have all pondered this question.
Purpose Is What Makes Meaningful Work Endure
Oftentimes, what brings us out of this state of gloom, isn’t necessarily correlated to a change in the situation, but is oftentimes due to a reminder of why we are doing the job- Purpose. For work to make sense, it must be meaningful – Work should have purpose.
Meaningful Work Beyond Pay, Rewards, and Promotion
In a post-pandemic world, it is increasingly clear that purpose is no longer tied to pay, rewards, or promotion; there is an increasing shift in focus beyond the tangible. According to Catherine Bailey and Adrian Madden, meaningful work tends to be intensely personal and individual. It is often revealed to employees as they reflected on their work and its wider contribution to society in ways that mattered to them as individuals.
Organizational Values and Meaningful Work
Should organizations then tailor themselves to every individual in their employ’s purpose? Of course not, that would not be feasible even if they tried. But every organization must lead with their values – not speak their values but act their values – combined with an inclusive culture that creates space for all to thrive. The result then is that individuals who are aligned with those values become drawn to you as an organization, not solely based on pay, promotion, or rewards, but because of the need to be a part of the journey, both on a personal and professional level.
Meaningful Work and Purpose-Driven Journeys in the Workplace
So that when those moments of “what’s the point of doing this job?” arise, those moments will eventually pass, and the allegiance will remain because the work transcends getting a job done. Work becomes a community with a common objective to fulfill a personal and collective.
