"In our research on meaningful work across industries and roles, we have found that meaning rarely hinges on the title on your business card. It hinges on how you experience the work you are already doing. What's missing isn't a new role at all."
"When people describe their most meaningful moments at work, they often talk about moments when they felt connected, when they saw their impact, and when someone believed in their potential. These experiences consistently cluster around three elements: Community, Contribution, and Challenge."
"In one of the most predictive questions in our study, employees were asked whether their leader cared about what was happening in their lives outside of work. Those who answered yes reported a significantly stronger sense of community. Community grows when someone follows up about the race you mentioned, checks in after a difficult week, or takes the time to ask a question that has nothing to do with your to-do list."
Meaningful work is determined by how individuals experience their roles rather than job titles or salaries. Research identifies three core elements that create meaningful work experiences: community (belonging and mattering to colleagues), contribution (belief that work makes a difference), and challenge (opportunities for growth and capability development). These elements emerge through small, repeatable relational behaviors. Leaders significantly influence meaning by demonstrating genuine care about employees' lives outside work, following up on personal matters, and asking questions unrelated to tasks. Building community requires everyday interactions that help employees feel seen and valued, strengthening overall engagement and transforming how work feels.
Read at Psychology Today
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