10 min
Meaning in work THANK GOD ITS MONDAY (TGIM)
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- Careers
As Christians, we don’t always approach our work in a very integrated way and to my mind; I think it’s because we do not have the know-how. Our discipleship system does not offer much practical help.
Some people will tell you that some jobs are more meaningful than others, so start by finding a meaningful job. There is some truth to this. Research suggests that when jobs provide the following benefits or opportunities, people find it easier to experience meaning:
• Autonomy, the freedom to try out your own ideas.
• A chance to use your skills.
• A sense of how your work contributes to a tangible product or service you can identify.
• Co-workers who enjoy and value their work, and with whom you get along.
• A leader who sets a clear vision that you value, who lives out that vision, who expresses genuine concern about you, who encourages you to take risks and solve problems creatively, who gives you confidence, and who expands your goals.
• An organizational mission that fits with what you value.
If you have a job that provides all or most of these things, count yourself privileged. If you have a chance to move into a position that gets you closer to this, you should seriously consider taking it. But for many people, simply finding a better job is not a realistic option. Lots of people spend their careers job-hopping in search of the perfect position that likely doesn’t exist.
What things should we do to find or make our work more meaningful? Take a listen.
As Christians, we don’t always approach our work in a very integrated way and to my mind; I think it’s because we do not have the know-how. Our discipleship system does not offer much practical help.
Some people will tell you that some jobs are more meaningful than others, so start by finding a meaningful job. There is some truth to this. Research suggests that when jobs provide the following benefits or opportunities, people find it easier to experience meaning:
• Autonomy, the freedom to try out your own ideas.
• A chance to use your skills.
• A sense of how your work contributes to a tangible product or service you can identify.
• Co-workers who enjoy and value their work, and with whom you get along.
• A leader who sets a clear vision that you value, who lives out that vision, who expresses genuine concern about you, who encourages you to take risks and solve problems creatively, who gives you confidence, and who expands your goals.
• An organizational mission that fits with what you value.
If you have a job that provides all or most of these things, count yourself privileged. If you have a chance to move into a position that gets you closer to this, you should seriously consider taking it. But for many people, simply finding a better job is not a realistic option. Lots of people spend their careers job-hopping in search of the perfect position that likely doesn’t exist.
What things should we do to find or make our work more meaningful? Take a listen.
10 min