4 Ways to Create Meaning and Find Renewed Purpose in Your Work

Every major news organization has called it, and you’ve probably heard the buzz—The Great Resignation is here. According to the 2021 Pulse of the American Worker’s Survey, during the pandemic, 1 in 5 workers permanently changed their line of work, while a quarter of workers are planning to jump ship and “job hop” as the pandemic decreases.

After a year like 2020, the American workforce has come out on the other side with a changed outlook on their professional and personal lives.

Aspirations, motivations, demands, and atmospheres have shifted—rightfully so. Workers are demanding a better work-life balance. They want to be more appreciated—socially and economically— for what they do. They want to acquire new and exciting skills that will drive them further in their careers.

The great reopening has begun across the nation. More businesses are desperately hiring, offering better compensation, and enticing perks; this has put the ball in the worker’s court to stipulate their demands and carefully weigh their [many] options.

Here’s the Truth

Although seeking out other job opportunities might be a good option in some cases, there’s a strong case for channeling your changed outlook on life into your current job.

By dedicating more years to a job, you can create stronger work relationships, hone your craft (rather than having to adapt to changes within your craft), get increased access to company benefits and perks, and the ability to create a strong reputation of dependability.

Finding renewed purpose, inspiration, and focus within your current role will reap financial, professional, and emotional benefits in the short and long term.?

Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Know Yourself

Make sure you're passionate or at least aligned with your organization’s mission, vision, and values.

If yes —excellent—keep engaging with those values that most inspire you.

If no—ask yourself these questions or discuss the misalignment with a manager/supervisor. Are you no longer challenged? Do you feel disconnected from the work? Do you see how your contributions help the team/organization to succeed, or do you lack recognition?

Explore your true feelings by partnering with your boss or HR to address your concerns and potentially strategize a plan to refill your cup.

2. Build It

Identify opportunities to make a difference at work (outside of your day-to-day responsibilities).

Try to imagine what you would do if you were just hired yesterday—what projects would you propose, what committee would you join, who would you volunteer to help, what role would you take in the next meeting, what important feedback would you share? Layout a list of actions you have time and energy for and act on them.

3. Grow Your Skills

You don’t have to start out at a new job to acquire new skills. Building new skills is an endeavor that any individual with any income can—and absolutely should—embark on in their own time.

It’s a powerful way to increase personal growth while also helping you become more efficient at your job— helping you work smarter and increasing your chances of getting that promotion.

Look for training and workshops in skill areas that interest you. Business and executive coaching is a powerful way to get one-on-one guidance, help, and training to reach your professional goals.??

4. Never Stop Asking Yourself, “What Do I Want to Be When I Grow Up”

Not sure about your position at your workplace? Feeling unmotivated? It's time to pull out your trusty career map.

There is nothing like checking in with your past dreams and goals to measure your success and determine where you want to be in the next ten years.

How does your current job fit into those projections? What's your next move? Clarifying this direction and creating alignment within the timeline of your next promotion or job change will definitely spark that motivation.

Only You Can Determine the Course of Your Career

Whether you want to reinvigorate your current job with meaning and purpose or if you want to search elsewhere—only you can decide.

Just remember that things constantly change; you should evaluate what's right for you each year.

Many people are working with career coaches to aid in this process. Sites like CoCaptain offer accessible coaching for any budget and connect you with a coach that will fit your needs and help you figure out the best course of action in your career.

?

If you’ve found yourself in the position where you have considered a career change within the past year, share your experiences and join the discussion below:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bryan Rosenthal?is an executive coach and HR leader based in New York City, who has worked with large-scale organizations including Nestle, GE, Voxy, WWE, and Brink's.

He's the founder of?CoCaptain, a digital marketplace that enables Coaches and Clients to engage in remote personal coaching sessions. CoCaptain's mission is to make coaching affordable and accessible for all.

Connect with Bryan on?Linkedin,?Facebook,?and?Twitter.