Is Your Work Fulfilling? Embracing Purpose for Enhanced Engagement
In organizations lacking a clear sense of purpose, employees often find themselves adrift in a sea of activity and busyness without substantive direction. This environment, marked by a frenetic focus on short-term achievements, is typically disorganized and devoid of sustainable commitment. When top executives prioritize mimicking competitors over prioritizing meaningful objectives, the result is a lack of clarity, culminating in poor decisions and unsuccessful product launches. Consequently, employees suffer from a lack of fulfillment and engagement in their work.
Tony Schwartz’s insights, highlighted in a recent HBR.org blog post, emphasize that many employees do not feel fully valued or empowered within their work environments. Instead, they are burdened by myriad demands and distractions that strip away the meaning and satisfaction from their professional experiences. This disconnect is a tragedy, resulting in lost opportunities for both individuals and organizations alike.
The Importance of Full Engagement
Engaged employees frequently deliver superior performance. Research by Towers Watson, involving around 90,000 employees across 18 countries, underscores this link: companies with the highest levels of employee engagement enjoyed a 19% increase in operating income and 28% growth in earnings per share. Conversely, companies plagued by low engagement levels experienced a 32% decline in operating income and an 11% drop in earnings.
Human beings naturally thrive when engaged in meaningful work. We seek stimulating experiences that resonate with our passions and aspirations. Organizations that recognize this intrinsic desire and nurture a compelling corporate purpose often emerge as employers of choice, attracting and retaining top talent.
A Gallup Organization study identifies 12 critical elements crucial to creating highly engaged employees, with many focusing on fostering a sense of belonging. Among these, the statement “The mission or purpose of my company makes me feel my job is important” stands out as a key driver of engagement.
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After satisfying basic needs, employees seek deeper meaning in their roles. A higher purpose allows individuals to invest personally in their work, fostering a sense of belief and commitment. If, as a leader, you fail to articulate a clear purpose and demonstrate how your work contributes to making a difference, you are unlikely to inspire full engagement in your team.
In my role as a leadership coach, especially within healthcare settings, this pursuit of purpose is a prevalent concern. Many individuals struggle to identify their personal purpose, as well as that of their organization. Coaching is instrumental in bridging this gap, helping individuals align job responsibilities with personal fulfillment and meaning.
Should you find yourself lacking clarity, lean on your coach for guidance. They can help you uncover the link between your aspirations and your organizational mission. If you’re in need of finding the right coach to assist you in this journey, please reach out – I am here to help.
Creator of the KASHBOX: Knowledge, Attitude, Skills, Habits
Helping You Realize Your Potential
I help people discover their potential, expand and develop the skills and attitudes necessary to achieve a higher degree of personal and professional success and create a plan that enables them to balance the profit motives of their business with the personal motives of their lives.
