how to find meaning in work
DESCRIPTION
This is a presentation I gave at an Occupational Psychology Conference in England, 2009.It outlines the results of my research into meaning in work. I explain what meaning in work is, how to find it and why it matters.TRANSCRIPT
Testing an Individual Model of Meaning in Work
Testing an Individual Model of Meaning in Work
Rob Archer, Goldsmiths UniversitySupervisor: Professor Frank Bond
JobProspects
MoneyFlat
Holidays
Uneasy
Why?
Meaning
JobProspects
MoneyFlat
Holidays
XXXXX
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?
Meaning in work
What does meaning at
work predict?
What predicts
meaning at work?
What is meaning?
Meaning
“Purpose”(Ryff & Singer)
“Connection”
(Singer)
“Comprehension & Purpose”
(Steger & Dik)“Li
fe
matters in
a broader
sense
”
“Order, coherence,
Purpose”(Reker & Wong)
“Purp
ose,
value, e
fficacy
,
self w
orth”
(Baumeister)
“Sense of coherence”
(Antonovsky)
“self
transcendence”
(Emmons)
ComprehensionPurpose
Eric Klinger
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
Aha!
Understand = Aha!
Don’t understand = uneasy
Meaning = comprehension
apple
Give me a bite of your
apple
Give me a bite of your apple,
said the murderer.
“Humans have a drive to coherence”
“Humans have a drive to coherence”
Comprehension is the outcome
of purpose
PurposeMeaning in work
Hypothesis 1: Strength of purpose predicts meaning
“Dent the universe”
SelfEarn money
Get promotion
Comprehension (Meaning)
SelfEarn money
Get promotion
TranscendentDent the universe
Improve the way the world works
Comprehension (Meaning)
Meaning in work
Self
Transcendent
Hypothesis 2: Transcendent purpose predicts meaning
Purpose
Self
Transcendent
Meaning in work
Use of strengths at
work
Hypothesis 3: use of strengths at work predicts meaning
Purpose
PurposeSelf
Transcendent
Meaning in work
Use of strengths at work
Work role fit
Hypothesis 4: work role fit predicts meaning
N = 404
PurposeSelf
Transcendent
Meaning in work
Use of strengths at
work
Work role fit
.629**
.799**
.649**
PurposeSelf
Transcendent
Meaning in work
Use of strengths at
work
Work role fit
.399**
.128**
.629**
.799**
.649**
PurposeSelf
Transcendent
Meaning in work
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**
Purpose
Self
Transcendent
Meaning in work
Use of strengths at work
Work role fit
Employee engagement
Psychological well-being
Meaning at work as mediator…
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...Postscript: this explains why...
1. We laugh when we understand something
2. Our greatest far is the fear of unknown
3. Rich people stick together / live in gated communities
4. Rich people become reclusive or adopt transcendent purpose
5. Religion is powerful
6. Sales teams tend to also socialise together
7. We are generally less happy in the information age
8. People tend to discount feedback
9. We invest song lyrics with truth
10.Using our strengths in life is so important