My first exposure to the concept of meaningful work was when "Working," a book by Studs Terkel, was assigned to me in 1985 by the professor in my Human Resources course. Terkel had interviewed 133 workers of every variety and recorded their thoughts. Not being a big reader at the time, I nevertheless read it with gusto -- taking in every story with deep fascination. The summer before, I had accidentally found my calling when I took my first Organizational Behavior class. I realized then that I had always been interested in the world of Work. From as early as I can remember, I wanted a job. I wanted to earn money and would do just about anything to get it. I was also fascinated with what working people did. I went to work with my Dad and was always given a "project" for which I could earn some money from the petty cash box.
A few years later, I myself taught an Organization Behavior class for the first time as a young doctoral student. I read passages from "Working" to my class, hoping it would incite discussion about the meaning of work and whether people were happy with their jobs.
It was only after I reread the book recently that I remembered the pessimistic tone of the introductory chapter and of most of the interviews documented therein. I began to wonder if people at the time of the original interviews (the early 1970s) were really that miserable or if Terkel somehow cast his own dark interpretation on each subject as he or she was interviewed. Did the majority of these workers truly not find any joy or satisfaction in their working lives? Did they really find no meaning in the activity which took up most of their waking hours? I found that idea incredibly depressing.
In my 20 years as a university professor (mostly teaching young MBA students), I've thought deeply about the lives for which my colleagues and I were preparing our students. I find myself wondering what it would be like to work at various organizations, doing various jobs. Mostly, I wonder whether the people in my life find any meaning in what they do.
But what exactly is meant by "the meaning of work"? I didn't know, so that's what I set out to understand. I highlighted many passages and took copious notes on Terkel's interviewees. Even though I'm sure Terkel was trying to document the misery and dissatisfaction of the workplace, there were a number of interviews with workers who described joy and meaning. I was able to formulate a list of ways that people find meaning in their work, such as seeing a tangible outcome from one's work (e.g. the bricklayer), status/prestige (e.g. the stewardess and the mailman) and importance to society (e.g. the garbage man). While I felt I had gotten a start in identifying the various sources of meaning, it was clear that I had not reached the saturation point. My findings were limited by the types of employees interviewed, the historical context and the questions asked by Terkel.
Next, I chose a more modern and less negative book of interviews of working people -- "Gig." "Gig" was written in 2000 and was a more neutral attempt to document the sentiments of working people. Reading "Gig" supplied me with evidence to support my original sources of meaning derived from "Working," but also revealed many more sources: a sense of calling (e.g. medicine woman), helping others (e.g. diet center owner, plastic surgeon, florist) and total identification with the organization and its mission (e.g. EPA worker). A total of 19 different sources of meaning were revealed through this process. Others uncovered:
Examples of each source filled the pages of "Gig" and "Working" and gave me hope that there are many ways for people to find meaning at work, even in jobs I would have thought were undesirable in some way.
So, my next venture is to write my own book, with interviews conducted by me -- asking all kinds of workers about the meaning they find in their work. I would like to document the positive side of work and help individuals find meaning in what they do. I also want to help organizations find sources of meaning for their employees.
If you find meaning in your work, please respond to this post and tell me about it! If your work is totally devoid of meaning, I'd like to know about that, too. Either way, consider sharing your thoughts with me and the world. You can identify yourself or be anonymous. You can choose whether to identify your organization. But please, tell me a little bit about the kind of work you do, your title and whether or not your work is meaningful to you. If you'd like to contact me directly because you think you'd be a good interviewee for my book, please email me at mosss@wfu.edu. I can't wait to hear from you!
BBC NEWS | UK | Magazine | The best way to find meaning at work ...
But I'm afraid we grew up in a society that saw work as a commerical transaction in which we exchange the daily torture of drudgery for money. We think it's a commercial transaction in which profit is the only motive.
If we saw work as it was designed to be, we'd have more and better teachers; more and better policemen, more and better artisans building houses and factories, and they'd be happy people. And we'd see fewer MBAs and Wall Street types who see the world as nothing but a vast, undulating ocean of profit and loss, without underlying meaning, without redeeming qualities except for the fact that it makes them rich.
There was a time when master craftsmen were the pillars of their community. We made things to the best of our abilities, we made things to last for generations, took pride in our work, and the community took pride in us.
I haven't experienced much of that.........at least in my life time. It's always been, "do it faster, do it cheaper, can't we cut corners somewhere?, no one will notice".
In the end I have come to the conclusion that my life was basically a waste of time. Little money to show for it, and many injuries (mental and physical) along the way.
The capitalistic model of business in America, did me no favors, and in my opinion has not served the country very well either. When shoddy workmanship, and imports, mean more money for those in positions of power, civilizations can't help but decline.
I personally believe that America reached it's pinnacle right after WW2, and it's been on a down hill trajectory ever since. The concept of competition is fundamentally sound, at least until it becomes a game of whoever cheats best........... wins.
My life, in 250 words.
Faved.
I'd like to posit 1.) People who take an academic approach to the subject of whether or not work is meaningful aren't the ones actually doing the jobs. 2.) Note the slow trickle of articles beginning to appear basically giving people permission to admit it if their work lives are drudgery at best. Ten years ago the slant would've been toward giving oneself permission to feel unbridled ambition. 3.) It's still somewhat socially unacceptable to admit dissatisfaction with one's work.
I would like to move into a different career, although in this economy when a resume screams Banking (because I did enjoy it at one point!) through the years it is difficult to make a transition into another profession, but I won't stop trying. On the other hand I am fortunate to have a job when so many people are struggling. So there you have it, I am incredibly lucky to have a job that I find very unrewarding...
I do feel joy and hope to hear people talk about how rewarding their jobs are. Good for all of you who are happy in your profession. I am looking forward to finding that again.
Sherry, I'm sorry. I should not post as I am not remotely pleased nor proud of my chosen profession. Caveat, at one time I was okay with it and had fun. I was a young, female stockbroker when there were few females (1983). I worked SO hard, since I had zero family money, no contacts; but worked 12 hours days with 6 every Sat. Over time, I truly took my role as a moral role. BUT, the huge producers, the ones with power were, at that time, selling annuities, and OMG..tax-shelters that a few years later were disallowed. I have to wonder why on earth I picked a male dominated industry and with every buyout (more than you can count) my heart sunk lower and lower. Cancer put me on disability about 1 year ago (it was aggressive followed by some near fatal blood complications)..anyway, that time off fighting to "live" I guess, I saw the TARP debacle and the incest of Wall Street and the Capitol. At 56, I have NO other training and zero money to go to school ( I will NOT take on debt at my age).
I depleted my 401k to help pay off medical bills (yes, even WITH decent insurance).