Work should have meaning and be meaningful to its workers is a popular paradigm for many people. It makes sense that if somebody finds their work to be of value to others and to themselves, then they will feel more motivated to make the effort.
But a research from the University of Sussex is now saying that if companies and employers are trying to artificially create meaning in their employees' work, then it might backfire. Furthermore, if the company climate is trying to push this ideal of meaningful work without seeing any concrete improvements to their working conditions, workers will become more demotivated.
So, if companies want to make work meaningful to their employees, then they can start with a few simple actions such as expressing gratitude and sincerity. Allowing people to have ownership over their work and have control over how to accomplish their tasks may boost their confidence in their work.
Providing mentoring opportunities and trying to align people's passion with their work can also improve morale and performance. For other tips on how to reinforce the meaning of work and meaningful work, Tracy Brower gives more suggestions in this article on Fast Company.
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