Why More Employees Are Seeking a Sense of Purpose in the Workplace

Now more than ever, employees are seeking purpose in their work. A recent survey found that 8 in 10 job seekers consider alignment with their employer’s values and vision to be incredibly important. Leaders who connect their employees to more purpose-driven work can create a more motivated, productive and loyal team that is invested in their organization and its long-term success. 

Shifting Workforce Expectations Toward Purposeful Work

For decades, career stability, salary and prestige were viewed as the primary motivators for workplace satisfaction. While these factors remain essential, employees have a different idea of what they’re hoping to gain from their employment. Purposeful work is now one of the highest-rated elements of the employee experience. But why?

The modern workforce has increasingly prioritized fulfillment and societal impact over traditional measures of success, like payment or promotion. They want their time and effort to contribute to something meaningful. As a result, more employees want a purpose-driven career that:

• Connects with their beliefs and backgrounds.
• Allows them to grow personally, not just professionally.
• Cares about their holistic well-being, physically, emotionally and psychologically.
• Aligns with their unique values regarding creativity, sustainability and social justice. 
• Provides adequate autonomy and flexibility to prioritize responsibilities outside of work.
• Invests in making the world a better place. 

The Power of Purposeful Work

Purposeful work can be defined as any kind of work that provides individuals with a sense of personal fulfillment and satisfaction.

When leaders insert a sense of purpose and meaning into the work they offer, they can transform how employees perceive and engage with work-related tasks. Placing purpose at the heart of your teams’ operations unlocks a wealth of benefits, including the ability to:

• Attract talented professionals: In a LinkedIn Workforce Confidence survey, 82% of professionals agree they want to work somewhere that aligns with their values. Leaders and team members who share the same values can work together to achieve shared goals.
• Engage and motivate employees: A clear organizational purpose enables employees to see how their ideas contribute to a meaningful overall vision. Employees who feel passionately about their responsibilities are more likely to work productively, enhance their skills and prove their loyalty by staying with an organization longer. 
• Encourage creative, innovative thinking: Strong, well-defined ideas are the foundation for any successful business. Purposeful work inspires creative, imaginative thinking that provides a framework for problem-solving and brainstorming new solutions. 

How Leaders Can Promote Employee Purpose

Leaders can inspire a sense of purpose at work by shifting their mindsets and engaging with their workers. If you’re unsure where to begin, start with an open conversation. Take the time to learn more about your employees. What are their core values and interests? What truly motivates them? Here are some strategies for cultivating a more purpose-driven workplace.

1. Inspire Your Team Through Vision and Purpose

Communicate your company’s vision and purpose, and connect day-to-day responsibilities to your organization’s larger mission. When employees understand how their work contributes to a shared goal, they can develop a deeper sense of purpose in the workplace. 

2. Enable Exploration of Purpose

Encourage ownership of one’s work. Give your team members the chance to engage in various tasks and develop new skills as they take on new challenges. If employees feel they have plenty of opportunity to grow personally and professionally, and that they can progress toward something meaningful, they will find more refreshed meaning in their work.

3. Match Roles to Strengths and Interests

Analyze performance to determine what an employee does well, and ask them what they enjoy. Leaders who assign tasks to match strengths and interests can inspire individuals to feel more purpose in their work. 

4. Create Other Opportunities for Impact

Organizations can create initiatives that support the causes their employees care about. Send a survey to determine which causes your workforce feels the most strongly about. Supporting your workforce’s personal interests and passions beyond work roles can inspire a deeper sense of purpose and motivation. 

5. Celebrate Your Team’s Success

Show gratitude for your employees’ efforts. Provide verbal praise often, and think of creative ways to reward your team for reaching milestones. Some incentives could include a lunch delivery or group outing. Appreciation affirms an employee’s value and contribution to the organization, reinforcing the idea that their work has purpose.

Create a Purpose-Driven Workplace With CLS

Creating a purpose-driven workplace is both a leadership responsibility and a shared journey. CLS helps leaders at every level increase work engagement and create an environment where employees can find fulfillment.

Our Situational Leadership^® Essentials course enables you to match your leadership approach to the unique needs of the individual and fulfill your team’s desire for meaningful work.

Talk to our team to learn more.