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    • Achieve - Focus on the Results
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    • Achieve - Showcase Your Work
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    • Achieve - Take Action
    • Achieve - Your New Job. A Plan
    • Career Management - Annual Review
    • Career Management - Annual Review Feedback Meeting
    • Career Management - Annual Review: How to Guide
    • Career Management - Career Contentment
    • Career Management - Careers Happen
    • Career Management - Career Journey
    • Career Management - Choosing a Mentor
    • Career Management - Discomfort Is Good
    • Career Management - Freelancing and Employment Gaps
    • Career Management - Mentally Healthy Choices
    • Career Management - Mentorship Explained
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    • Finances - Retirement Saving (2)
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- Wise Words -
​The Meaning in Why

by miriam gilbert


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"This is boring!"  It is easy to think this if you don't know why your job is important!

Not important because it gives you the means to pay your bills and buy food.  But why it is important for the business you work for.
 
Maybe you know vaguely why your employer needs you to do the things you do.  You may have some niggling doubts about a boring task you were given. Then there are those reports that you prepare every month and maybe you wonder what good they do.  And of course, you might question those forms you fill in all the time - who needs them and what do "they" do with them?
 
So maybe you are not crystal clear on why all the things that make up your job are important.  Does it matter that you don't know why?  At the end, it's just work, right?
 
No, it is not ok!

Not seeing how your work fit into the wider picture of the organisation has implications, for you and your career.
 
The good news is it's not difficult to find out why a task matters.  Knowing why does not just boost your personal performance, but it also helps the business and gives your career an *unfair* advantage.
 
Curious?  Before we get into the details, here's a quick round-up of what happens when people don't understand why what they do matters.
 
Bureaucracy, wasted effort and unnecessary work.  Businesses are complex systems that evolve and change over time. That means tasks which were needed at one time might be irrelevant at another. Yet this evolution rarely filters through to all parts of the organisation.  As a result, you get unnecessary bureaucracy, people wasting time and effort on work that is not needed.
 
Have you ever heard the phrase: We have always done it this way?  Yep, that's a giveaway that the purpose, the "why" of a given tasks hasn’t been questioned for a while.

Left-hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing.   I am sure you have come across this phenomenon: Marketing starts a big ad campaign, then finance cuts their funding.  Or the IT department rolls out system upgrades during the busiest time for customer service.  One manager tells you to do one thing, only for another manager to tell you to do the opposite.  It's very common in large organisations (and small ones are not immune to it, too).  It's frustrating and expensive, and frankly, embarrassing, too.hghgh
 
What about you?  If you lack a sense of purpose, if you are unclear why you do what you do, it's not just bad for your company.  Finding the meaning in tasks big and small is important for your well-being: emotionally, physically and career-wise.
 
Research(1) shows that people who find their work meaningful and see a greater purpose in their work than "just a job" or even a career, have higher work and life satisfaction.  They might even live longer(2)!
 
Having a purpose is an essential ingredient for happiness.  I don't mean the kind of "I've-just-won-the-lottery" kind, but the deeper, real type of happiness that gives you a positive outlook on life, let's you spot more opportunities and helps you deal with adversity. It's the kind of happiness that Martin Seligman, Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania calls "flourishing"(3).  And it is the ability to flourish which is a strong predictor of leading a good life and even career success.
 
Sounds a bit esoteric?  How about some old-fashioned logic.  Finding the purpose in your tasks - even in the boring ones - can enhance your career and there are just three steps to it.
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Become a learner and investigator (but don't not an interrogator).

1) Start off with finding out what your business is about. What is its purpose?  Be careful not to get sidetracked by a lofty "mission statement".  Instead, look at what your customers are buying and why it is important to them. Some examples from my clients:

​A travel operator: making travel affordable to as many people as possible because travel broadens the mind.

​A transport agency: keep London flourishing by getting people moving around.

An insurance company: providing peace of mind to ordinary families by insuring their valuables


2) Learn about your organisation's business and operating model.  Dig down until you understand how the different parts of the organisation fit together and what role they play. What exactly does that department with the strange acronym do? And how do they support the organisation's purpose?

3) Follow your work.  Literally. Go and speak to the people who use the output of your work and find out what they do with it.  Where does it go? What happens next? And what happens after that? Trail it all the way - you might be surprised what you find.  If you find that nothing happens with a particular output, you can legitimately (and nicely) ask if you should really continue to produce it.  

Of course, you should be mindful that your investigation does not become an interrogation. No one likes the Spanish Inquisition, let alone "enhanced interrogation"!

But if you ask nicely and from a perspective of genuine curiosity, you'll find your colleagues open to helping you. This can lead to insightful conversations and building connections with another part of the organisation.
 
The magic of finding purpose.  Building business relationships, understanding how the business works, growing personal motivation and performance - not a bad outcome for trying to find the why in boring tasks. What is more, they all underpin successful career progression.  The relationships you build will also put you in good stead when you need help or when opportunities for progression comes. Your insights to how the business works will help you spot opportunities.  Most importantly, motivated, well performing people are always more in demand than those who see their work as "just a job".


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Miriam Gilbert is Founder and CEO of Coincidencity a consultancy with focused on re-humanizing the workplace through empowering employees.  Once they know why, employees will excel!

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In the first 5 years or so of your career?  Want actionable career advice?  Buy Early Stage Professional: starting off right, the no nonsense professional skills book designed so that everyone can succeed in the workplace! 



 Footnotes
  1. See Amy Wrzesniewski, Clark McCauley, Paul Rozin, and Barry Schwartz (1997). Jobs, Careers, and Callings: People’s Relations to Their Work. Journal of Research in Personality, Vol. 31, 21–33.
  2. See  Deborah D. Danner, David A. Snowdon, and Wallace V. Friesen: Positive Emotions in Early Life and Longevity: Findings from the Nun Study; University of Kentucky; Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2001, Vol. 80, No. 5, 804-813
  3. Flourish: Positive Psychology and Positive Interventions MARTIN SELIGMAN The Tanner Lectures on Human Values Delivered at ­e University of Michigan October 7, 2010

More Wise Words...

Achieve: Focus on Results
​
Achieve: Leading from the Start
Achieve: Small is BIG
Achieve: Take Action
Career Management: Annual Review. A "How To"
Career Management: Annual Review. As Career Plan
Career Management: Choosing a Mentor
Career Management: Careers Happen
Career Management: Career Journey
Career Management: Mentorship Explained
​
Career Management: Post Graduate Degrees
Career Management: Promotion Frustration 
Career Management: Moving up by moving out
Career Management: Selecting Your Company
Career Management: Understand Yourself
Finances: Retirement Saving (1)
Finances: Retirement Saving (2)
Hindsight: Balance the short- with the long-term
​Hindsight: Embrace learning and your manager
Hindsight: Focus at Work
Hindsight: Millennial Reflections
Hindsight: Regrets: Time, Money & Pride
​Hindsight: Take Advice Sparingly
Hindsight: Take a Career Mulligan
​
Hindsight: Transition from College
Hindsight: Winning Nicely
Hindsight: Work hard, network, be honest. Have fun too!
Managing Up: Manage Up to Move Up
Managing Up: Manager As Partner
Managing Up: New Manager
Managing Up: Questions for your manager
Managing Up: Secret Skills for Managing Up
​
People & Teamwork: Be A Giver
​
People & Teamwork: LinkedIn As Networking
People & Teamwork: Networking Hacks
People & Teamwork: Networking as a Relationship
People & Teamwork: Networking Simplified
People & Teamwork: Teamwork As Leadership
Speedbumps: Chutes & Ladders
​
Speedbumps: Laid Off? Take A Breath
Speedbumps: Layoffs. The Afterlife
Speedbumps: Owning Mistakes
Work Life: Work Culture. America vs. UK
Work Life: Ask Why
Work Life: Be Yourself. Be Genuine
​
Work Life: Browned Out?
Work Life: Business Travel Guide
Work Life: Calendar Management
Work Life: Difficult Situations
Work Life: Focus on Fiyah!
​Work Life: Ghosting
​
Work Life: Help the Early Stage Professionals
Work Life: International Remote Working
Work Life: Pre-Vacation Checklist
Work Life: Smartphones & The Office
​Work Life: Start-Up Glamor
Work Life: Stress Management
Work Life: Take a Walk
​
Work Life: They Quit
Work Life: Unlimited Vacation
Work Life: Welcome the Newbies
Work Life: "Work" from Home

Crushing It @ Work

What Time Should I Start? 
What If I am Running Late? 
Taking Vacation
Sick Days 
Working Outside Office Hours
​
How to prepare for One/Ones
Making Meetings on Time 
Business Presentations 
Social Media, Personal Email and Hanging Out on the Web
Give it Six to Nine Months to Feel @Home
Be Your-professional-self
Staying Positive

Job Search Must Do's

Resume
The Application Letter 
​
The Free Conundrum: Should You Take an Unpaid Internship?
Informational Interviews 
Taking a Shortcut: Using Your Network 
Dealing with a Low GPA
​Responding to Recruiters
The Job Interview
Interview Questions
Questions You Should Ask
Simulations 
Interviews with Other Applicants
Dealing with References
Negotiating Your Salary
How to Resign (if you already have a job)
​
The First Week
You Don't Get the Job: Getting Feedback
​Keeping Motivated Through the Search

USA Today Columns by Fergus Mellon

How to get started on LinkedIn: Do this, not that
Warning: Avoid smartphone shame at work.  Keep them out of sight
To succeed, be a Giver in the workplace, not a Taker
4 ghoulish personality pitfalls to steer clear of at the office
​
How to coach today's not so entitled Millennials as they join the rat race

Crushing IT

Money

Library

WISE WORDS

Bureaucracy

Copyright © 2016 - 2020
  • Home
  • Getting a job
    • Must Do's - Resume
    • Must Do's - Application Letter
    • Must Do's - Internships
    • Groundwork - Informational Interviews
    • Groundwork - Your Network
    • Groundwork - GPA Issues
    • Groundwork - Recruiters
    • Dealing with Rejection - Feedback
    • Dealing with Rejection - Keeping Motivated
    • Closing the Deal - The Interview
    • Closing the Deal - Interview Q's
    • Closing the Deal - Your Questions
    • Closing the Deal - Simulations
    • Closing the Deal - Group Interviews
    • Closing the Deal - References
    • Signing On - Salary Negotiation
    • Signing On - How to Resign
    • Signing On - First Week
  • Crushing It
    • The Hours - What Time Should I Start
    • The Hours - What If I Am Running Late?
    • The Hours - Taking Vacation
    • The Hours - Sick Days
    • The Hours - Working Outside Office Hours
    • Professional Skills - One/Ones
    • Professional Skills- Making Meetings on Time
    • Professional Skills - Business Presentations
    • Professional Skills - Social Media, Personal Email
    • A Level Head - Feeling @ Home
    • A Level Head - Be YourProfessionalSelf
    • A Level Head- Staying Positive
  • Wise Words
    • Achieve - Focus on the Results
    • Achieve - Leading from the Start
    • Achieve - Showcase Your Work
    • Achieve - Small is BIG
    • Achieve - Take Action
    • Achieve - Your New Job. A Plan
    • Career Management - Annual Review
    • Career Management - Annual Review Feedback Meeting
    • Career Management - Annual Review: How to Guide
    • Career Management - Career Contentment
    • Career Management - Careers Happen
    • Career Management - Career Journey
    • Career Management - Choosing a Mentor
    • Career Management - Discomfort Is Good
    • Career Management - Freelancing and Employment Gaps
    • Career Management - Mentally Healthy Choices
    • Career Management - Mentorship Explained
    • Career Management - Post Graduate Degrees
    • Career Management - Promotion Frustration
    • Career Management - Promotions. Move out to move up
    • Career Management - Selecting Your Company
    • Career Management - Understand Yourself
    • Finances - Preparing for a Downturn
    • Finances - Retirement Saving (1)
    • Finances - Retirement Saving (2)
    • Hindsight - Balance the Short- with Long -term
    • Hindsight - Embrace Learning & Your Manager
    • Hindsight - Focus at Work
    • Hindsight - Millennial Reflections
    • Hindsight - Regrets: Time, Money & Pride
    • Hindsight - Take a Career Mulligan
    • Hindsight - Take Advice Sparingly
    • Hindsight - Transition from College
    • Hindsight - Winning Nicely
    • Hindsight - Work Hard. Be Honest. Have Fun
    • Managing Up - Manager as Partner
    • Managing Up - Manage Up to Move Up
    • Managing Up - Mastering Your Manager
    • Managing Up - New Manager
    • Managing Up - Questions For Your Manager
    • Managing Up - Secret Skills of Managing Up
    • Managing Up - Yes Power
    • People & Teamwork - Be a Giver
    • People & Teamwork - First Time Manager
    • People & Teamwork - LinkedIn as Networking
    • People & Teamwork - Networking Hacks
    • People & Teamwork - Networking as Relationship
    • People & Teamwork - Networking Simplified
    • People & Teamwork - Reputations Travel
    • People & Teamwork - Teamwork as Leadership
    • Sliding Doors - Decision Paths
    • Sliding Doors - Success Requires Luck
    • Speed Bumps - Chutes & Ladders
    • Speed Bumps - Layoffs & Survivors Guilt
    • Speed Bumps - Laid Off? Take a Breath
    • Speed Bumps - Layoffs. The After Life
    • Speed Bumps - Owning Mistakes
    • Work Life - American Work Culture
    • Work Life - Ask Why
    • Work Life - Be Yourself. Be Genuine
    • Work Life - Browned Out?
    • Work Life - Business Travel Guide
    • Work Life - Calendar Management
    • Work Life - Change is Certain
    • Work Life - Difficult Situations
    • Worklife - Focus on Fiyah
    • Work Life - Ghosting
    • Work Life - Help the Early Stage Professionals
    • Work Life- International Remote Working
    • Work Life - In the Zoom
    • Work Life - Mom Skills
    • Work Life - Office As A Stage
    • Work Life - Office Ghouls
    • Work Life - Pre Vacation Checklist
    • Work Life - Returning to Work
    • Work Life - Smartphones & The Office
    • Work Life - Speak Up
    • Work Life - Stage Fright
    • Work Life - Startup Glamour
    • Work Life - Stress Management
    • Work Life - Take A Walk
    • Work Life - Tasks We Hate
    • Work Life - They Quit
    • Work Life - Unlimited Vacation
    • Worklife - Vacation Overview
    • Work Life - Welcome the Newbies
    • Work Life - "Work" From Home
  • Money
    • Money - The Basics
    • Money - Saving for Retirement
    • Money - Retirement Saving
  • Library
    • Book Reviews
    • Webinar Hub
    • USA Today Columns
    • Buy Early Stage Professional
    • Bureaucracy
  • Help Center
    • Annual Reviews
    • Career Speed Bumps
    • Managing Up
    • Promotions & Career Planning
    • Stress Management