Self-Management: Finding Meaning When Your Job Feels Meaningless

Most of us share a mutual ideation when it comes to our jobs: we want to feel like our jobs contribute to the greater good and make a difference to other people.

How can you break away from this negative thought? How can you use your experience, skills and values to drive your passion once more? Who can you turn to to find your purpose? What can you do to use our present day crisis as a head-start to creating meaning?

Here’s What the Experts Say:

According to an article by Rebecca Knight, from Harvard Business Review:

These days, it’s hard to feel inspired about anything – let alone your job. While it’s understandable to feel like your work has lost its purpose, take the time to rekindle its meaning.

“Nothing gives you more energy than a clear purpose.” Without one, “even just getting out of bed every morning becomes a challenge,” said Hatice Necla Keleş, a professor in the Department of Organizational Management at Bahçeşehir University in Istanbul.

“Reconnecting with your job and reminding yourself of who you are and why you do what you do, doesn’t necessarily need a grant gesture or journey. There are many different ways you can find purpose,” said Karen Dillon, coauthor of the book How Will You Measure Your Life?

Here are some ideas:

1. Counteract Negative Thoughts With Positive Reinforcements

It’s important to address the root source for your feelings of meaningless – one of the culprits is stress. On a normal day, you endure what the author Dillon refers to as “micro-stresses”, which are minor aggravations such as a colleague hastily disagreeing with you in a meeting, that can affect your productivity and feelings about your job. On top of that, your usual stress outlets such as seeing friends or the gym, are inaccessible due to the pandemic lockdowns.

Thankfully there’s a cure to this. “Just as micro-stresses eat away at you, micro-moments of pleasure can help you find your way back,” said Dillon. Now that the pandemic restrictions are at ease, there are more ways for you to uplift your spirits besides reading your favourite book and home workouts – So head out, catch up with friends, hit the gym or plan a vacation.

2. Reflect On What Matters To You

“Finding meaning in your work [requires thinking] about how you’re living your life — how you’re spending your time and how you’re using your abilities,” said Professor Keleş, as she recommends to reflect on what matters and motivates you.

Take a step back, ask yourself: What drives me? What are my values? What am I good at doing? And what can I contribute to? Bear in mind that you don’t have to be a scientist, curing diseases or saving endangered species for your work to be meaningful. “Think about what excited you about working at your organization in the first place,” Dillon said.

If you find that you’re coming up short, Dillon recommends talking to your colleagues or team members. Ask for their thoughts or opinion. Piggybacking on their energy and insights could help you regain inspiration.

3. Offer Your Assistance

“In a perfect world, you want to align your purpose with the mission of your organization, and you want to feel like the work you’re doing is for the greater good. But if that’s gone — even just temporarily — look for small ways that your purpose can be personal,” says Dillon.

For instance, you could coach or mentor a younger employee in using the latest software system, volunteer to assist your struggling teammate’s workload in preparing for your HR analysis, or offer support to your colleague from the finance department to integrate the new payroll software.

Professor Keleş concurred that putting yourself forward even in the slightest can be replenishing. “Helping others provides meaning and satisfaction,” she says.

4. Be Grateful For Your Colleagues

Dillon says: “Even if you’ve lost your enthusiasm for the mission of your organisation, hopefully it doesn’t mean you’ve lost your excitement for your team and your peers.” She suggested making an effort to connect with colleagues that you click with. “Don’t let your job become a get-it-done transaction.” She also recommended reflecting on “why you’re grateful for certain colleagues” and then expressing your appreciation for them.

Simply by telling others what they mean to you is a meaningful experience in its own right. “Those moments of connection — taking a minute and saying, ‘I appreciate you and I really enjoy working with you’ — are powerful,” said Dillon.

5. Career Change, Maybe? Give It a Good Thought.

Finally, whatever you do, “don’t make a rash decision” based on your state of mind today, says Dillon. “We are all under a lot of stress, and no one makes good decisions under those conditions,” she says. If you’re contemplating to quit, put it on hold. Once these crises improve, you may still think of a career change; and then you can take steps to deal with it. Until then, evaluate the current situation and see what can be improved.

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