Purpose Beyond Productivity: The Value of Meaningful Work

90,000 hours. This, on average, is how long each of us will spend at work, a third of our life. We search for meaning in our lives and it is not just limited to the personal domain, we also look for it in the third of our life that is occupied by work. In fact, research has shown that finding meaningful work is more important to individuals than career advancement, job security and even income. Why is this? Why is meaningful work valuable and how do we find it in the workplace?

In most cases meaningful work is employment that we see as valuable and that aligns to our values and interests. It’s a job where we feel valued, and where we value the work we undertake. It is also important to note that meaningful work is not one continuous psychological state, rather it is built up from multiple workplace experiences.

These experiences are developed over time and give us a sense of belief that we are participating in meaningful work. Meaningful work will be different for all of us, person-to-person, culture-to-culture, it is not necessarily tied to specific job titles. Furthermore, it is not tied to a single element of work, or level of employment. For some it will mean that their work contributes to the betterment of society, others may find meaning in the way their work provides the opportunities for them to display their skills/creativity.

So, why is this important? Meaningful work has a positive effect upon our psychological wellbeing. Many studies point towards meaningful work being linked to high job satisfaction, engagement and work-place performance. Those who view their work as meaningful observe many positive outcomes. This includes an increase in life satisfaction and sense of loyalty to the organisation. Individuals also find accomplishment and personal growth in the workplace. Other positive outcomes also include an increase in engagement and motivation at work.

Those who do not find work meaningful are more likely to be absent and flit from organisation to organisation. Whilst meaningful work is primarily a positive phenomenon, we do need to acknowledge that meaningful work can have some drawbacks. Meaningful work can have symbiotic relationship with stress. Employees point to work related meaningfulness and stress as having a ‘hand-in-hand’ relationship. Whilst finding meaningfulness within our work can reduce stress it can also exacerbate it.

So, how do we find meaning at work?

When visiting the NASA Space Center in 1962 President Kennedy asked a caretaker what he was doing, he replied, ‘I’m helping put a man on the moon, Mr President’. This typifies how an employee can see their work as meaningful by contributing to the accomplishment of the organisation and society as a whole. Leaders have a key role in augmenting this mindset. By fostering a collective vision that those at the organisation feel a part of this can develop a meaningful working environment as it brings individuals together to achieve that shared vision.

Whilst leaders do have a responsibility to develop meaningfulness at work, overt methods to implement meaning within the organisation can lead to counterproductive effects as it can be viewed as inauthentic by employees. Organisations should, therefore, ensure that meaningfulness is not simply prescribed to employees rather it is something that requires a personal touch.

Researchers have identified four pathways that can lead individuals to find meaning at work:

Autonomy
Experiences at work can become meaningful when there is a sense of ownership of work. By finding agency within work, and autonomy within the workplace individuals develop a strong feeling of meaningful work as they have a sense of freedom and control over their workplace activities.

Self-worth
Work can also be meaningful if self-worth is found within daily work-lives. This self-worth can be found if people find their work is valuable and gain a sense of accomplishment. There is a fantastic film called Perfect Days, that typifies how we can find meaning from even the most basic elements of life and work. Self-worth can also be derived from others via positive feedback and from society by feeling that our work is making a positive difference.

Purpose
A sense of purpose is also a way to develop meaning at work. This is normally framed within a collective sense rather than an individual ideal and is considered in two domains. Firstly, one being that work contributes to a pro-societal good, that your work is contributing to the shared set of values not only of the organisation but also to the shared society as a whole. This is of course identified within your own set of values and ideals and will vary from person to person. The other is the link between daily work activities and their contribution to personal activities. As stated before, many will sacrifice income to find meaning at work, but this income in itself can also generate meaning as it allows out of work purpose through engaging in activities that give purpose.

Belonging
Belonging has been shown to develop lasting meaningfulness within the workplace. A close connection to colleagues can create a strong sense of belonging and thus meaning within the workplace. This sense of community can also provide a feeling of reciprocal support reinforcing a sense of meaning.

As we can see, the positives of meaningful work are incredibly powerful but the ways we develop meaning is different. This will constantly evolve, not only as our personal visions, goals and values change but also societies as a whole.

At The Survey Initiative, we specialise in helping organisations uncover what truly matters to their employees. Let us help you design your next engagement survey to gain valuable insights and create a workplace where meaningful work thrives. Contact us today to get started!