By Adunke Olatunji
ARISTOTLE, a Greek philosopher and polymath during the Classical period in Ancient Greece, taught by Plato, and founder of the Lyceum, the Peripatetic school of philosophy, and the Aristotelian tradition said;
“Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives – choice, not chance, determines your destiny”.
We all have (and perhaps envy) a friend who seems to love their job. You know, the person who “whistles while they work,” so to speak—who seems to skip merrily to the office, is happy to put in overtime, who claims they’d still be an accountant or a teacher even if they didn’t get paid.
All right, so this friend may not exist. Work is supposed to be work! Still, the goal of finding a career that is both a source of happiness and fills our bank accounts is not as lofty as it once seemed.
Most of us spend the majority of our waking lives at work. It’s not too much to ask that we feel as if we’re working toward something more than a paycheck alone. How then, do we go about finding fulfilling work?
Research shows that happiness at work has much less to do with compensation and much more to do with overall well-being at the office. When career purpose is clear and job satisfaction is high, it can greatly contribute to our overall contentment and self-esteem.
Still, if you’re dreading Monday every week, you’re not alone.
More often than not, jobs are a source of stress and dread rather than passion and purpose. The modern workforce is switching jobs and feeling stuck more often than in past generations.
Employees are asking for their careers to be a source of meaning and a reflection of the values about which they care the most. And the rewards for doing so—from engagement at the office to job satisfaction and loyalty—are beneficial to both individuals and companies alike.
What exactly, then, is the link between knowing your purpose and performance in your job? After all, who doesn’t want to be happier and more productive?
Having Purpose Leads to Motivation
In the workplace, this translates to a hierarchy of how one views their job: as a means to an end, as a career, or as a calling. Most workers appear to be hyper-focused on the basics, instead of striving for higher needs like passion and creativity.
A study on the essential elements of employee well-being defines purpose as “satisfaction with daily activities and the motivation to achieve your goals.” More so than location or even office culture, it’s markers of social relationships, health, prosperity, and happiness at work — including a sense of purpose — that take precedence.
It makes sense that the clearer you are on your purpose (and the happier you are at work,) the more motivated you are to work hard at it — and to stay focused when inevitable bumps in the road come along.
Narrowing in on ‘Millennials at Work,’ surveys indicate that a life well lived includes feeling emotionally connected to your job. To do so, we need to understand not just the ‘what’ behind a job’s function, but the ‘why.’ Some employers seek to provide this, but it can also be up to the individual to contemplate a larger perspective. Employees need to know not just what they’re being paid for, but who their work is serving, and what specific role they play in reaching the company’s goals.
In other words, it makes it much easier not to hit the snooze button each morning when you’re excited about what you’re getting out of bed to accomplish.
Time Flies When You’re Having Fun
Psychologists have linked purpose to ‘flow,’ or being so absorbed in what you’re doing that you disregard what’s around you. We get into a flow state, or ‘being in the zone,’ when intensely focused on and involved in the task of hand — sometimes even losing track of time.
Getting into flow while working is most often attributed to intrinsic motivation. It is more likely to present in people with a strong sense of purpose, which in turns provides a greater sense of overall well-being.
The more flow we experience, the happier we feel.
Having a sense of purpose also contributes to a focus on intrinsic goals, such as personal growth, autonomy, and accomplishment, as opposed to external pursuits like money and status. Working toward intrinsic goals increases your self-confidence, which grows as you rise to meet challenges (which you’re more apt to do when you have a sense of purpose.)
Happiness Leads to Productivity
Being motivated, fulfilled, and accomplished…sounds great! But is there a real link between being happy and being productive?
Researchers made the scientific link between happiness and higher rates of productivity. They found a causal relationship between feelings of well-being and overall performance.
Meaningful careers emerge when one can see a connection between one’s own purpose and the role one plays in a given company. This is true both across generations and across industries. Ultimately, finding real purpose makes people willing to work harder, more diligently, and with greater passion.
The more you know about yourself, and the less afraid you are to explore the big questions about your life and its meaning, the more you are able to go after the sense of well-being you seek. If that includes work that’s greater aligned with your true purpose — they’re questions worth asking.
Olatunji is the President, Tabitha New Life Foundation