How to find meaning in work

Testing an Individual Model of Meaning in Work Rob Archer, Goldsmiths University Supervisor: Professor Frank Bond

Job Prospects Money Flat Holidays

Uneasy

Meaning

Job Prospects Money Flat Holidays X X X X X

Credit crunch: A sickness in the heart of Britain Credit crunch 'hits small firms' Financial sector to lose 15,000 jobs -confidence in City plunges Get used to lengthening dole queues - and fear for a lost generation

Credit crunch: A sickness in the heart of Britain Credit crunch 'hits small firms' Recession: Financial sector to lose 15,000 jobs and confidence in the City plunges We had all better get used to lengthening dole queues - and fear for a lost generation What have I done?

What is meaning in work?

How can I find meaning?

What does meaning at work predict? What predicts meaning at work? Meaning in work

What is meaning?

“ Purpose” (Ryff & Singer) “ Connection” (Singer) “ Comprehension & Purpose” (Steger & Dik) “ Life matters in a broader sense” “ Order, coherence, Purpose” ( Reker & Wong) “ Purpose, value, efficacy, self worth” (Baumeister) “ Sense of coherence” ( Antonovsky) “ self transcendence” (Emmons) Meaning

Comprehension Purpose

Eric Klinger

All animals evolved to pursue goals We need to take action to survive. The role of cognition is to understand the world around us Emotions are a call to action

What if I DON’T understand something?

Uneasy

Understand = Aha! Don’t understand = uneasy

Meaning = comprehension

Give me a bite of your apple

Give me a bite of your apple, said the murderer.

“ Humans have a drive to coherence”

Comprehension is the outcome of purpose

Purpose Hypothesis 1: Strength of purpose predicts meaning Meaning in work

“ Dent the universe”

Self Earn money Get promotion Comprehension (Meaning)

Self Earn money Get promotion Transcendent Dent the universe Improve the way the world works Comprehension (Meaning)

Self Transcendent Hypothesis 2: Transcendent purpose predicts meaning Purpose Meaning in work

Self Transcendent Use of strengths at work Hypothesis 3: use of strengths at work predicts meaning Purpose Meaning in work

Purpose Self Transcendent Use of strengths at work Work role fit Hypothesis 4: work role fit predicts meaning Meaning in work

N = 404

Purpose Self Transcendent Use of strengths at work Work role fit .629** .799** .649** Meaning in work

Purpose Self Transcendent Use of strengths at work Work role fit .399** .128** .629** .799** .649** Meaning in work

Purpose Self Transcendent Use of strengths at work Work role fit .089** -.043 .168** .562** .216** Rsq change = .688** Meaning in work

Employee engagement Psychological well-being Meaning in work

Employee engagement Psychological well-being .643** .594** Meaning in work

Purpose Self Transcendent Use of strengths at work Work role fit Employee engagement Psychological well-being Meaning at work as mediator… Meaning in work

If you want meaning at work:

Big conclusion coming

If you want meaning at work:

1. Know your strengths

2. Choose a company whose values you share

3. Aim to ‘ dent the universe’

Postscript: this explains why...
We laugh when we understand something
Our greatest far is the fear of unknown
Rich people stick together / live in gated communities
Rich people become reclusive or adopt transcendent purpose
Religion is powerful
Sales teams tend to also socialise together
We are generally less happy in the information age
People tend to discount feedback
We invest song lyrics with truth
Using our strengths in life is so important

How to find meaning in work

by Rob Archer on Nov 20, 2009

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