Imagine how much we could accomplish if everyone worked at something fulfilling. Some people are fortunate enough to find true vocations and spend their lives at what they would consider their calling.
Everyone else works for a living.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. Through the decades, workers have been able to demand better working conditions, wages, benefits and paid time off. Now, those are the table stakes, especially for younger generations who seek greater fulfillment in their work.
Companies need to go above and beyond to become an employer of choice. The benefit is more than simply finding the best talent — it means having employees who will go the extra mile for their employers. But building this higher level of loyalty can’t be done just with cash, parties, gifts or trips. Businesses have to give their employees purpose.
Find the WHY behind your business
A study by the Edelman Trust Barometer and Gallup found that more than 75% of American workers are not engaged at their jobs. It doesn’t matter how much they’re paid or how much PTO they have accrued. They will never give their best if they are only motivated by a paycheck or working for that next vacation.
Meanwhile there have been extensive studies about the value of purpose-driven work. In a study by the Harvard Business Review, 426 of 474 — or 90% — of executives surveyed said they understood the value of purpose-driven work. Yet less than half of all those executives said purpose informs how they operate.
This despite the many examples of how purpose-filled organizations outperform the S&P 500 14 to 1. The qualitative and quantitative evidence demonstrating the value of creating a purpose-driven culture abounds. Yet executives continue to struggle to make purpose part of their organizational culture. It usually doesn’t go much further than a company-wide recycling program, charity drive or the occasional volunteer opportunity.
It's not simple. Leadership often has to contend with shareholders who have different, short-term priorities. The organization’s purpose might not have the proper infrastructure in place. It could be hard to track performance toward the purpose. And often, employees don’t understand the concept, or it’s not communicated well.
Thank the Millennials
The generation born between 1981 and 1996 have driven most of this. They not only want flexibility in the how, when and where they work. They need a reason to work for someone.
A paycheck isn’t good enough. That next vacation isn’t good enough. If they are going to spend such a large portion of their lives committed to working, it needs to matter. And when it matters, great things can happen.
When workers see a purpose to their work, they will do more than is expected of them. They will become absorbed in their jobs. They develop a greater sense of commitment to their employers and will be less likely to quit. That’s according to a survey conducted in 2011 by organizational psychologist Paul Fairlie.
Fairlie found people had a better connection to their job if it matched with their personal values. Their job needed to help them fulfill some purpose in their life or help complete the picture of who they thought they were or help them do good things in the world.
A good deed is its own reward
We’ve grown accustomed to dangling ‘carrots’ in front of people to lure the performance we want. Tech toys, exotic trips, cash incentives and merchandise items are common material rewards for jobs done well. However, it takes very little effort to go beyond and add some altruism to that rewards program.
For example, how passionate do you think someone would work if they knew that their actions and recognition was also funding the planting of trees to help fight climate change? Do you think a team might feel more motivated if they were competing against another department to see who could be the first to plant 1,000 trees? Ten thousand trees?
By partnering with trusted eco-action organizations, companies employing more than 3 million workers worldwide have already planted 6 million trees, restored thousands of acres of forest, and helped local ecosystems, and local economies recover.
It should be inspiring to create a purposeful work environment. The opportunities exist. It’s just a matter of taking the steps to harness the real meaning behind why people work. Business owners and leaders may also find they enjoy their work more as well, as they build work cultures focused on purpose.
Latest posts by Rob Purdy (see all)
- Workers Need A Purpose To Work Best - July 25, 2021
