The Pursuit of Meaning at Work

Are you feeling stuck in your career and questioning the point of all of this? You're not alone! So many professionals are seeking more meaning in their work.?In fact, according to research from the?Harvard Business Review , 9 out of 10 employees?are willing to trade a percentage of their lifetime earnings for greater meaning at work! Hence, the Great Resignation or as I call it, the “Great Realization” that ensued during the pandemic.

The good news is that there are many ways to achieve meaning that doesn’t necessarily require you to jump ship and start something entirely new. Here are five tips to help you get started.

1. Get Clear on What's Important to You?

Take time to consider what matters most to you - both within and outside of work. What type of impact do you want to make in the world? What kind of work energizes you? What do you want your legacy to be? Once you have clarity on what matters most, it will be easier to identify where you have the potential for increasing meaning in your career.?

2. Identify Gaps Between Where You Are and Where You Want to Be?

Once you know what matters most, look at how well your current role is helping you meet those needs. Are there gaps between where you are now and where you want to be? Knowing these gaps can help you find where you have the biggest opportunity to increase meaning in your career. From there, it's just a matter of finding ways to bridge those gaps. That could involve taking the initiative on new projects or talking with your manager about developing a plan for professional growth.?

3. Understand the Bigger Picture?

Sometimes when we get stuck in the day-to-day grind, we forget why our job exists in the first place! Take a step back and consider how your work contributes to the company or even bigger objectives like societal change or environmental protection initiatives. Understanding how your role fits into something bigger can bring greater meaning into focus and give renewed purpose around why your efforts matter daily.??

4. Make Empowered Career Decisions

Behind every decision, either you are utilizing an empowered mindset or disempowered mindset.?

Activating an empowered mindset harnesses your own set of beliefs and values to influence and control your actions in your career and life. You feel confident and align your actions to what makes you happy and fulfilled, no matter what others think or the potential outcome. I have worked with clients who have struggled with making empowered career decisions. One client, Karl, was an operations leader within the TV and film industry. While Karl knew his role inside and out, he yearned to become a writer. However, he struggled with a disempowered mindset allowing his perceived limitations and the narrative he made up of people judging him for making a potential career pivot. Through coaching and other interventions, he harnessed an empowered mindset, ultimately pursuing a career in writing.

5. Celebrate Your Achievements Along the Way?

It’s easy to get caught up in wanting more from your career but don’t forget to take stock of how far you've come already! Taking time each month or quarter to reflect on successes achieved so far can help you stay connected with your progress and build confidence which ultimately leads you closer towards greater satisfaction at work going forward. Acknowledging small wins along the way helps create momentum that will fuel further success over time.

The pursuit of meaning at work can sometimes be a matter of making small changes within your existing role that make all the difference between feeling stuck versus feeling inspired again! Keep an open mind and begin experimenting with these tips to achieve greater meaning and happiness in your career and life!

Thank you for reading this edition of the Driven to Thrive newsletter! Here are some ways to access additional tools, advice, and tips to accelerate your leadership & career:

→ Review the numerous career-enhancing resources available on my website at?aliciadreece.com .?

→?Follow me on LinkedIn , and click the ?? at the top of my profile page to learn more about Drive to Thrive events and join the conversation on my posts.?

→?Subscribe ?to receive my Driven to Thrive newsletters.?

→?Enroll in one of my LinkedIn Learning courses:?Coaching Yourself to Career Success ?and/or?Using Personal Authenticity to Drive Career Success

I’m rooting for you always!