Finding Fulfillment and Purpose in the Workplace

𝗔 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 ☀ Ever felt like your professional successes don't quite fill the void within? It's a challenge many in leadership positions encounter: the quest for genuine fulfillment and purpose that goes beyond just achieving goals. Ignoring this sense of emptiness can lead to a disconnection from your work, affecting productivity and potentially prompting thoughts of leaving your organization. A daily reflection exercise on your purpose can be key in addressing this. Here’s a streamlined approach: 💥 Identify Moments of Identity: Recall six times in your career where you felt most fully yourself. What is most meaningful to you, and why? 💥 Find the Underlying Pattern: Examine these situations closely. What connects them? Capture the common thread that made these moments feel you were most fully being yourself. The clue is in what is meaningful and why. 💥 Craft Your Purpose Statement: Turn this pattern into a deep self-concept statement. It could be something as inspiring as "To be the best in every interaction" or "To bring out the best in my people." 💥 Winning matters, but without meaningfulness it results in emptiness. So winning matters, meaning matters, it’s Both/And, not either/or. Combine going for a Big Win and your Big Purpose. 💥 Mobilize Your Purpose: Make this statement a guiding principle in your everyday decisions and regularly review its relevance to your evolving leadership journey. Carefully not on track, off track and course correct. By incorporating this reflection into your daily routine, you can start to bridge the gap between external achievements (winning) and internal fulfillment (meaning). When done well, this alignment can reignite your passion for your work, enhance your productivity, and deepen your connection to your role and team.🌀 Share your thoughts in the COMMENTS below. 🔽 #LeadershipFulfillment #PurposeBeyondSuccess #ReflectAndRedefine #AuthenticLeadership #MissionDrivenLeaders

I'll be honest - I've always struggled with preparing for "career conversations".   I'm fortunate to work for a company and for leaders that truly prioritize career development. We carve out time each quarter to talk about goals, skills to develop, and potential roles to explore a few years down the line.   I've had a few very smart leaders ask me in these conversations, "what are you solving for during this phase of your career?". This would make me pause and think about what my "north star" was that would guide my thinking. I still wasn't really sure, so I'd often stumble trying to explain my answer.   I recently tried a new approach after watching "Blue Zones" on Netflix. In Japan, there is a popular concept called "Ikigai" which means "a reason for being". Finding "Ikigai", or a sense of purpose, is believed to be a factor that contributes to people living much longer.   I drew out a table with 3 boxes: 1️⃣  What I Love 2️⃣  What I'm Good at 3️⃣  What the Business Needs   From there, I listed out ideas across each bucket, to try and get a better sense of some common themes that overlapped.   It was an illuminating (and fun!) exercise that helped me have a more in-depth conversation with my manager about what I wanted to focus on to get more alignment to my "Ikigai". This could be in the projects I take on, roles I want to explore, and skills I intend to develop.   I've found that when I can align myself to work that feels in line with these three things, it boosts my motivation, productivity, and overall sense of fulfillment. I'm excited to continue using this lens to help me think through my career choices.   ⭐️ If you want to read more about how to leverage Ikigai, you can read this article: https://lnkd.in/g2awjAUe ⭐ If you have any frameworks that you use for career conversations, I'd love to hear them! 

Identifying your core values and beliefs relevant to career exploration is important for finding fulfillment and success. Start by reflecting on your reactions to career-related decisions or challenges. Pay attention to your gut feelings as they often reveal underlying values guiding your choices. Evaluate past experiences in jobs, projects, or volunteer work. Consider what aspects you enjoyed most and what motivated you to excel. Recognizing recurring themes can shed light on values important to your career satisfaction. The Lesson? 🎯 Ensure your career choices reflect what matters most to you. By staying true to your core values, you'll find greater fulfillment and purpose in your professional endeavors. 🎯 Recognize that identifying core values is an ongoing process. Stay open to new experiences and insights that may refine or expand your understanding of what drives you professionally. 🎯 Pursue career paths that resonate with your core values and beliefs. When your work aligns with what truly matters to you, you'll find greater motivation and satisfaction in your endeavors. Understanding and embracing your core values is the foundation for a fulfilling and purpose-driven career. By aligning your professional choices with these values, you pave the way for personal growth and success. 

One of the most important things I’ve learned in coaching is that what initially brings people to me is seldom what they’re really there to work on. We may start with goal setting, work performance, or career challenges, but it isn’t long before we dig down to the deeper questions of purpose, meaning and fulfillment. This deep work happens because they are tired of living on the surface - weary of routines that have made them strangers to the dreams they once held. The weekend is the perfect time to breathe deep and consider the bigger questions - the ones that might lead to a new beginning or just a renewed commitment to the life you truly want. If this resonates, find some time to let these questions go deep: 1. What do I love about my life? 2. When in my work have I been happy? 3. What dreams do I long to pursue? 4. How do I want to be remembered? Don’t be afraid to go below the surface. That’s where you’ll find the answers. #heroic #coaching #happiness ThriveHer

I met with the CEO of a hyper successful manufacturing company last week and I can honestly say that it changed my life. We allotted for an hour and ended up spending two and a half hours together. The conversation was unbelievably enlightening. This CEO is a third-generation business owner who never really intended to work for his family’s business. It was purely a lifestyle business that his parents maintained to be able to afford the basic necessities in life. When I asked him how he managed to grow the business at the almost-unbelievable rate that he has since taking over only a few short years ago, his answer was alarmingly simple.  It’s the #culture. He took what was once non-existent and built a company culture so rich that he collects handwritten notes, emails rivaling the length of epic novels, and tearful hugs from his employees raving about how their life has been forever changed by this company… How is that for a measure of success? Letters from your employees vs. financial metrics on a spreadsheet. He collects stories. And the thing is, that spreadsheet, it’s also looking stronger than ever. Now of course, this didn’t happen overnight. It took a couple of years of soul-searching for him. Removing toxic people. Bringing in the right people. Looking outside of his industry. Looking inward to find people he already had that were in the wrong positions. Leveraging external coaches. Trial and error. But overtime, he’s built something that is intangible and irreplaceable. His employees wouldn't dream of leaving because they won’t feel this feeling anywhere else. The bottom line is, employees today seek more than just a job; they crave a sense of belonging and purpose. And I couldn’t help but connect the dots to a recent documentary I binge watched – “Blue Zones” - detailing the stories of the longest living people on the planet. The resounding message was that having community and a purpose in life are intrinsically tied to longevity. Feeling connected to something larger than ourselves is critical to our fulfillment in life. I keep hearing people say that culture doesn't matter in this post-pandemic world, but the jig is up as it has been both scientifically and anecdotally proven that it does. This CEO’s story is living PROOF that not only does culture matter, but it could be the reason your company has yet to unlock its greatest potential. It takes commitment, belief, the right intention, and teamwork, but it is absolutely possible. Take care of your people and the rest takes care of itself.

I'm excited to share insights on enhancing human performance and wellbeing in the workplace in my new piece for EmeraldPublishing's Strategic HR Review. The digital era has changed work dynamics, but the core principles of meaningful work remain unchanged. Here's the essence for HR leaders: 1. Mission Alignment: Forge a clear path where every role and task is a stepping stone towards the company's mission. This connection elevates the everyday grind to a purposeful journey. 2. Social Connectivity: For those working remotely, curate moments for connection, fostering a community that bolsters a sense of belonging. 3. Autonomy and Growth: Give employees autonomy in their work along with chances to grow. This autonomy feeds their competence and enhances their drive. 4. Purpose-Driven Culture: Meaning and purpose are critical Articulate a company vision that echoes personal ideals, merging individual purpose with collective goals. 5. Tech for Engagement: Use digital platforms to cultivate a workspace that’s both collaborative and inclusive, ensuring all team members, regardless of location, feel integrated and valued. It's not just about policies; it's about nurturing an environment where wellbeing and purpose aren't just nice-to-haves, but key to productivity. Dive into the full article for a roadmap to these transformative strategies. Link in the comments #workplacewellbeing #motivation #humanperformance #purposedrivenculture #meaningfulwork #engagement

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦? 𝐎𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐬, 𝐰𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬? Let's dive deep into the three transformative skills that can reshape your work experience: 1️⃣ 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 🧠: It's not just about recognizing your emotions but understanding them as they unfold in real-time. How do you react when a colleague gives feedback? Or when a project doesn't go as planned? Being in tune with these reactions is the first step. 2️⃣ 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 🌼: Ever felt a surge of negative emotion and immediately tried to push it away? Instead, embrace it. Dive into it. What's it trying to tell you? There's power in curiosity. 3️⃣ 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 💖: This is the game-changer. By truly understanding your emotions and what sparks them, you can pinpoint what you value most. What lights up your day? What tasks feel more like a calling than a chore? By identifying these, you can intentionally engage in activities that resonate with your purpose and, yes, bring immense joy. In essence, happiness at work isn't just about the role you're in, but how you approach it. It's about aligning your daily tasks with what genuinely fulfills you. So, ask yourself: Are you just working, or are you working with purpose and joy? Share your thoughts below! How do you find joy in your daily tasks? Let's inspire each other to create workplaces where happiness isn't the exception but the norm. 💬👇 #LITrendingTopics #WorkplaceJoy #EmotionalIntelligence #PurposeDrivenWork

𝗜𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝘂𝘀, 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺? 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁: '𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴'.🌟 I recently came across this concept as part of the "Organizational Behavior" class for my MBA, and can't wait to share it with you all. 🛠️ Job crafting is the powerful practice of employees redesigning their roles to cultivate engagement, satisfaction, resilience, and overall fulfillment. Think of it as a tailor-made suit for your professional life. Crafted not in the finest Italian wool, but in the resilience and satisfaction of employees. And the yield? Unprecedented. ✅ 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: Job crafting reportedly fosters greater satisfaction and increases loyalty towards both the job and the organization. So how do we leverage this revolutionary approach? 🔧 Business leaders and entrepreneurs can create fertile ground for job crafting to take root. Here's the blueprint: 👥 𝗘𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁: Let employees steer their own careers, while you provide the necessary resources and support for a smooth journey. 📝 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽 𝗮 '𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵-𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵' 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆: Foster an environment where managers and team members draw personal development plans together. This alignment reinforces the employees' bond with the organization's mission. 🚀 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀: Sharing the organization's vision helps employees understand their role in the larger scheme of things. It motivates them to customize their roles accordingly. 💼 𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲 '𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴' 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺𝘀: Create platforms for team members to discuss their job crafting experiences. This promotes the sharing of creative solutions and sparks inspiration. 🔓 By embracing this practice, we can create workplaces that inspire passion, drive, and personal fulfillment. Have you seen or implemented it in your workplace? Any experience worth sharing? Feel free to comment or forward this to someone who might find it useful. Stay tuned for more insights in future posts! #JobCrafting #Entrepreneurship #UnlockYourPotential #OrganizationalBehavior

Ikigai: Discovering Your True Purpose As a mentor, coach, and CHRO, one question I ask a lot of people is "What is your reason for waking up in the morning?" It's a simple yet profound question that can unlock insights into our deepest motivations and aspirations. Most of the time it just makes them go off and think for a few days. As we work together to set personal goals and create a roadmap for success, I have found that exploring the concept of Ikigai can be a powerful tool to help them work through that question and serve as a good tool for career development. Ikigai is a Japanese concept that has gained popularity in recent years as a framework for finding purpose and meaning in life. Coined by Akihiro Hasegawa, a clinical psychologist and associate professor at Toyo Eiwa University, Ikigai is composed of two words: "iki," which means life, and "gai," which describes value or worth. In essence, it is your life purpose - the reason why you wake up in the morning and what gives your life meaning. The Ikigai concept is visualized as a Venn diagram with four overlapping qualities: what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. When these four elements align (according to the concept), you have found your Ikigai - the sweet spot where your passions, talents, and the needs of the world intersect. Let's take a closer look at each of these components and how they can contribute to your career success. 1.   What you love: This refers to your passions, interests, and what brings you joy. It's about identifying the activities or tasks that make you feel energized and fulfilled. When you are doing what you love, work becomes more enjoyable and meaningful, and you are more likely to excel in those areas. 2.   What you are good at: This pertains to your skills, talents, and strengths. It's about recognizing your unique abilities and expertise. When you are leveraging your strengths, you are more likely to perform at your best and achieve outstanding results. Identifying your areas of competence and continually developing them can boost your confidence and increase your chances of success. 3.   What the world needs: This involves identifying the needs, problems, or challenges in the world around you. It's about understanding the market demand or societal needs that can be addressed with your skills, knowledge, or contributions. When you are making a positive impact on the world and serving a larger purpose, it can bring a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. 4.   What you can be paid for: This relates to the economic aspect of your career. It's about identifying the opportunities or areas where you can generate income through your skills, expertise, or value proposition. Understanding the market value of your skills and being able to monetize them can enable you to sustain your career and achieve financial stability. #career #success #careerdevelopment

You can't unlock happiness at work without "The Big Why." To find true purpose at work, you must know the answer to (and more importantly, relate to) the question: WHY are we doing this job? Here's an example: let's say you're an employee at Build-A-Bear Workshop at the local mall. The company has made it clear you aren't just building stuffed animals: you're on a mission to give children and families an experience they'll never forget. This mission can also be called the Big Why. If you don't buy in to this Big Why, you'll see work as a tedious process of getting screaming children to kiss fake hearts and buy comically-small outfits. You'll count down the hours until you clock out. You might even start to hate teddy bears. And when the holiday rush comes around and it all seems so pointless, you'll put in your two weeks' notice, and you'll never make the two weeks. But if you buy into that deeper purpose, chances are, you'll deliver a better experience for the children and make better recommendations. You'll be able to see the value you bring to the environment. You might even make a few teddy bears for yourself because you enjoy seeing the process from the customer perspective. And when a new opportunity arises to move to a different store in the mall, you'll say "no" because you're fully engaged in your role—maybe you're even hoping to move up in the company. Not everyone will buy into the Big Why...and that's okay. But it's crucial to have employees who DO embrace it—and you won't if you don't have a Big Why in the first place. The energy of engaged employees is infectious. The Big Why can be seen in the effort they put in and in their enthusiasm. And that's important, no matter what you do...or why you do it. #culture #leadership #employeeengagement #employeeexperience