Finding meaning in your work is first and foremost finding yourself
The search for meaning at work has become an issue for many working people. But what is meaningful work? Usefulness of its function, balance between professional and personal life or professional development? Regardless of the status, each job can actually make sense. However, it is up to each of us to recognize how, by looking within ourselves, what is most important to us.
Here are Arthur and Léa. Two people, two completely opposite profiles. Arthur is 39 years old and works for an investment fund, one of the largest in Europe. A position that offers him a monthly salary allowing him to live very comfortably. Outside his office overlooking the roofs of the city, this young dad is involved with an NGO campaigning for the preservation of the oceans. For her part, Léa is a journalist for an online media. She has dreamed of her job since she was a child and deals with subjects that are close to her heart: women's rights, LGBTI+ people, anti-racism, ecology. A passion job for which she is paid with a slingshot: barely the minimum wage and enough to afford a few drinks with friends.
Now that we have painted a (light) portrait of these two people, let's ask ourselves: which of the two has a job that makes sense? To this question, it would be tempting to say that it is Léa. She lives from her passion and publishes very committed and engaging topics. Yes and no. Both actually have meaningful work. For Arthur, the meaning of his work is self-realization: earning money, getting promoted and being recognized by his peers. He keeps his activism for his personal sphere. For Léa, the meaning of her work is her contribution to society, that her articles have a positive impact, that they inform us, that they awaken us. Even if it means giving up on his vacation in Lavandou.
The meaning of work is therefore very personal. What makes sense for one does not necessarily make sense for the other. Maybe Arthur and Lea's work doesn't make sense to you. Everyone has their own definition, and it is up to everyone to define it. But how?
Finding meaning in your work: from collective to individual meaning
The search for meaning at work has always been rooted in our society. Contrary to popular belief, it is not a “fad” among Millennials who some describe as a “self-centered generation”. Since time immemorial, humans have sought to find meaning in their work. This phenomenon is visible through the example of artists, for whom the expression of their art has always been much more important than their material well-being. On the other hand, this search for meaning was accentuated when our society moved from the collective model to the individualist model, where self-awareness and self-realization became central. The “Us” has turned into “I”, the “We” into “Me”.
This is not a form of selfishness; this notion of “I” has simply developed through our life, which means that we no longer have the same inner circle, the same “Us”, from birth to death. But also because we are, in general, more aware of ourselves. Through education and more time away from work than in previous centuries, we decided that we were not robots; everyone feels their own individuality. We are no longer working only on our technical skills but also on our social skills: how to interact with each other, how to feel good individually to maintain better relationships with our environment. Self-awareness is now more important than collective consciousness. And as soon as we have this awareness, we seek to realize ourselves, to Finding meaning in what we do.
We are drawing today 4 main types of senses :
- For some, meaning means to thrive and grow in what they do.
- For others, meaningful work is one that allows you to earn money, get promotions or even be recognized by your peers. This is the case with our Arthur.
- The meaning can also mean “to contribute to something.” It can be a job that has an environmental or societal impact like Léa. A seamstress will also be able to find meaning in her work by creating dresses that will enhance and give women confidence.
- Finally, the meaning of work can be defined in relation to one's social circle or in relation to one's company. “I contribute to the growth of my company.” It can also be in relation to the family. “I work like this so that my family is well.”
What meaning we have depends on each one of us. We may have several but rarely all four. It's up to us to choose them based on our expectations, on what matters most to us at a given moment in our lives. This search for meaning is not reserved for an elite, for a select few. It is quite possible to find meaning in a food job or a job that is not highly valued in the eyes of society because it allows us to meet our needs, to be in contact with other people, or because it allows us to devote time to our personal life, our family. As long as it suits us, it makes sense! And that is what is most important in this concept of having “a job that makes sense”.
An introspection necessary to find meaning in one's work
Meaning is above all a personal journey. But in this loss of meaning, many people blame the company, thinking that it is up to organizations to change. An illusory thought: a company cannot in fact give a collective meaning - a vision, a common course - that can correspond to the individual needs of each.
On the other hand, it can offer a framework offering spaces so that each employee can define their own meaning. However, it is up to her to be clear about the declared collective meaning so that everyone can position themselves. But then again, finally, there will be personal work to do to draw this meaning and to know what is important to you. What do we want? Who do we want to be? Where do we want to go?
Finding meaning will therefore inevitably involve finding yourself, in Working on your self-leadership, to understand ourselves and our environment, and thus detect what really corresponds to us: the personal meaning of our action within our environment.
