Getting in·SPIRE·d by Finding Meaning at Work

Photograph by Jamie Street

Are you working to live or living to work?

At some point, many of us have experienced the feeling of simply “going through the motions” at work. Perhaps burnout creeps in. Motivation fades. The work that once felt engaging begins to feel mechanical, or perhaps it never felt engaging in the first place.

It is easy to interpret these moments as personal failure or something to push through. But what if these signals are pointing to something deeper?  

What if they are signs that we are longing for those 8 (or more) hours per day to be more meaningful, purposeful, aligned with your life vision, and perhaps even energizing.

Wanting more meaning in your life is a valid aspiration. In fact, more and more research suggests that meaningful work is not a luxury or naïve ideal. It is closely connected to psychological well-being, greater life satisfaction and less burnout (Creed, Rogers, Praskova, & Searle, 2014; Hagemeier & Abele, 2012; Steger, 2017). Best of all, there are concrete actions you can take to find more meaning in your life and work.

Heed the call

When burnout creeps in, or you are feeling demotivated, it might be interesting to ask yourself, “what about meaning?”  If you yearn for more meaning at work you are in good company. More and more, meaning in the workplace is being valued just as much as salary or job security. Research from Kelly Services suggests that a small majority of workers would accept a reduction in salary if it meant doing work they found more meaningful (Kelly Services, 2010). Seeking a career that feels meaningful and aligned to your purpose and life vision is a noble search.

Carrying out meaningful work can transform your life, inside and outside of the workplace. Research supports that meaningful work can lead to higher life satisfaction, more frequent positive emotions and lower levels of anxiety and depression, as well as greater quality of life at home (Douglass, Duffy, & Autin, 2016; Steger et al., 2010; Steger et al., 2012; Steger, Littman-Ovadia, Miller, Menger, & Rothmann, 2013; Tummers & Knies, 2013). In other words, cultivating meaningful work or work in line with your calling is an investment in your mental health, well-being and home life.

Grab a pen!

Psychologist Michael Steger offers a helpful framework for cultivating meaningful work called the SPIRE model (Steger, 2017). It invites us to reflect on several dimensions of meaning at work. The following is his model adapted with some questions to provide you with active reflection in each of the areas. 

S-Strengths. What are your unique talents? How can you engage in these every day?

P-Personalization. What are your core values? How do they show up at work? Which ones are aligned to the work you do and to your organization’s? Which ones get left out? How can you engage your values more at work?

I-Integration. In what ways does the meaning you find in your work help you build meaning in your life and vice-versa?

R-Resonance. What are the core values of your organization? How does this align with your own values and mission, if at all?

E-Expansion. How might the work you do contribute to the greater good? How could you enhance this?

Meaningful work is profoundly beneficial and can be cultivated through reflection, small shifts and a willingness to reconnect with what truly matters. The SPIRE model offers one pathway to help you identify ways to reshape your current role or explore roles that resonate more deeply with your values. It supports you in taking the reins of your well-being by aligning your work and life with your values, strengths and your contribution to something larger than yourself.

References

Creed, P. A., Rogers, M. E., Praskova, A., & Searle, J. (2014). Career calling as a personal resource moderator between environmental demands and burnout in Australian junior doctors. Journal of Career Development, 41, 547–561.

Douglass, R. P., Duffy, R. D., & Autin, K. L. (2016). Living a calling, nationality, and life satisfaction: A moderated, multiple mediator model. Journal of Career Assessment, 24, 253–269.

Hagmaier, T., & Abele, A. E. (2012). The multidimensionality of calling: Conceptualization, measurement and a bicultural perspective. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 81, 39–51.

Kelly Services (2010). Kelly global workforce report 2009. Retrieved June 18, 2010 from https://issuu.com/michaelkirsten/docs/kelly_global_workforce_index_2009.

Steger, M. F. (2017). Creating Meaning and Purpose at Work. In L. G. Oades, M. F. Steger, A. Delle Fave, & J. Passmore (Eds.), The Wiley Blackwell Handbook of the Psychology of Positivity and Strengths-Based Approaches at Work (1st ed., pp. 60-81). John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Steger, M. F., Dik, B. J., & Duffy, R. D. (2012). Measuring meaningful work: The Work and Meaning Inventory (WAMI). Journal of Career Assessment, 20, 322–337.

Steger, M. F., Littman‐Ovadia, H., Miller, M., Menger, L., & Rothmann, S. (2013). Affective disposition, meaningful work, and work‐engagement. Journal of Career Assessment, 21, 348–361.

Steger, M. F., Pickering, N. K., Shin, J. Y., & Dik, B. J. (2010). Calling in work: Secular or sacred? Journal of Career Assessment, 18, 82–96.

Tummers, L. G., & Knies, E. (2013). Leadership and meaningful work in the public sector. Public Administrative Review, 73, 859–866.