Four Ways to Make Your Work More Meaningful

Have you ever had one of those days? Come on, you know. One of those days? Nothing seems to go right, you're so done writing about the same topic all of the time and you're looking to dig your teeth into something meatier. Well, tomorrow we'll recap the annual Matrix Awards held yesterday by New York Women in Communications (spoiler alert: talk about inspiration!). For now we'll focus on infusing your day with a different perspective to get through the drudge to see the big picture. Truth is, sometimes you don't need a brand new job for challenging, more exciting work. Sure, it doesn't hurt to start looking for a new opportunity but you can change things today by altering your perspective to get more satisfaction from the work you're currently doing. Per a piece on Psychology Today, there are several ways to find new meaning in your work. According to Aaron Hurst, author of The Purpose Economy, it can be done by adjusting your own tasks, relationships and your approach to work itself. 1. Adding tasks. For starters, Hurst mentions he mentors students and visits classrooms. This gives him purpose and pleasure and better yet, he makes time for it because it helps him stay engaged in his own work. 2. Building relationships. How often have you emailed a colleague to ask a quick question who literally sits two feet away from you? No worries, we're not calling you out -- we've been there, done that as well. Let's make a pact to build relationships that are right in front of us. Maybe it's a matter of inviting a colleague to grab a cup of coffee instead of going alone when you need to clear your head. Think about your relationships with colleagues, clients and others in order to bring "more purpose to your work as a whole." 3. Adapting relationships. Hurst indicates some of his favorite relationships entail getting to know leaders in the market outside of his organization. He writes, "Rather than seeing them as competitors, I try to find ways for us to mentor each other and find mutual wins." 4. Look at the big picture. Instead of seeing the impact of your work for its immediate results such as posting this blog, he looks at "the cascading impact from engaging and inspiring people." That initial spark, he says, typically creates new organizations as well as programs they end up creating. Sounds like a win-win to us!

Fishbowl

Four Ways to Make Your Work More Meaningful

Vicki Salemi

About

Subscriptions

Events

Publications

WORK SMARTER - LEARN, GROW AND BE INSPIRED.

Subscribe today!

Vicki Salemi