American explorer Mark Dickey was rescued on September 12th from a deep cave in Turkey after becoming ill and being trapped for 9 days. It was more than a mile below the earth’s surface. You might wonder what draws people into the belly of the earth. On the surface these hazardous situations baffle us. Dig deeper. You will find purpose. He was on a mission to map one of the deepest caves in the world. Cartography is needed to research mineral resources, protect water supplies and many other invaluable uses for the planet. An explorer’s mission is noble.
We may not be such brave hearts in our daily lives. But we can certainly find purpose in our daily work. “If work is meaningless then life comes close to being meaningless”, said Abraham Maslow (1962). ‘The meaning rush’ started in the 1970s when Silicon Valley brought it to the forefront.
Michael Steger, PhD, one of the world’s leading experts in the scientific study of meaning in life makes the distinction between Meaning of Life vs Meaning in Life. He refers to “Meaning as a goodness remora” (remora being suckerfish that attach to you). We have a strong desire to understand and identify purpose in our life. He classifies 3 components:
- Comprehension: making sense of one’s experience
- Purpose: possessing highly valued goals and mission for one’s life
- Significance: perceiving one’s life to be worthwhile and to have value
As a systems engineer you have been assigned a project by your manager that holds high priority. You know ‘how’ to get the work done technically. You do not grasp the urgency or the reason for the assignment. It seems senseless. You end up procrastinating or being distracted.
You understand the company’s ‘why’ (mission) and the ‘what’ (goals to be accomplished). However these do not align with your own values. There is a disconnect. It seems purposeless. You find yourself yawning, grimacing or groaning as you work.
The likelihood of you working at your best and enjoying what you do grows dimmer. Engagement, efficiency, excellence or timeliness are noticeably absent. You are doing yourself a disservice. When your work feels insignificant, your life starts to feel worthless. You become demotivated.
You are not a machine that simply gets the work done. You are a human being to whom meaning matters immensely. Kellerman and Seligman in Tomorrowmind talk about this emphasis on ‘mattering’ in our modern economy. We create meaning in our work, and beyond that, we want to know how it impacts others. To love what you are doing is innately rewarding. To know that it makes a difference in the world surpasses that gratification.
For individuals the benefit of meaningful work is priceless. It spells job promotions for those who view their work as brimming with meaning. They tend to put in ‘discretionary effort’, apply themselves to their work with extra zest and focus. “Doing what you love and loving what you do, accrues financial benefits.” (Kellerman & Seligman, 2023).
It promotes physical and mental wellbeing. Intrinsic motivation is essential for our overall health. Psychosomatic illnesses, anxiety or depression are kept at bay. In this fast paced economy this is the singular motivator to keep us going.
Benefits of meaningful work are abundant for organizations as well. Motivated employees result in heightened productivity which reflects in year-end profit margins and the company flourishes. Employee retention is higher through rough economic times or challenging work environments as employees stay connected with their work, withstanding any turbulence. They develop resilience.
You may not be an explorer daring to go into dark crevices, you could be sitting comfortably at your computer, or standing at the surgical table doing what you love. Take a moment to reflect on how you connect with your work. Once you identify why it appeals to you and what makes you happy, examine how it matters to others. Find meaning in your work and see yourself soar!