Is it possible to feel dissatisfied at work and still feel fulfilled in life?

Is it possible to feel dissatisfied at work and still feel fulfilled in life?

What percentage of people do you think are dissatisfied with their jobs but fulfilled in life? For people who work full-time, make an estimate. 50%, 25%, 10%?

This has been a fundamental topic regarding work. For many people, work is simply about earning a paycheck: “a job is a job” or “work is work,” as we say in Chile. We can find fulfillment in other aspects of our lives, such as family, community, our hobbies, or sports, among other things.

Well, to be honest, not really…

The 2019 Work Purpose Index (Imperative, 2019) sought to understand the role of fulfillment at work and its connection to fulfillment in our lives in general.

The reality is discouraging

It turns out that only 1% of full-time workers who feel dissatisfied at work manage to feel fulfilled in life. This means that, statistically speaking, if you work full-time, finding fulfillment outside of work isn’t enough.

What are the implications?

According to a recent article in The New York Times, “having a sense of purpose is linked to several positive health outcomes, such as better sleep, fewer strokes and heart attacks, and a lower risk of dementia, disability, and premature death.”

A study conducted by Imperative in collaboration with New York University (NYU) in 2015 found that 66% of the workforce does not feel fulfilled at work. This makes the lack of meaning at work a public health crisis. Work is taking a toll on us.

The good news is that 74% of people believe fulfillment at work is possible. The study also found that people view their fulfillment as primarily their own responsibility, as only 12% disagree with this statement. This means that the solution to the epidemic of meaninglessness lies in empowering people to find fulfillment in their work. Culture and managers are important, but people must also take responsibility for their own fulfillment. (Imperative)

Promising Solutions

Become aware of what fulfills you at work

People who feel fulfilled are significantly more likely to be self-aware about what brings them fulfillment and to seek support from their peers. When people are aware of what brings them fulfillment, they are much more likely to experience fulfillment at work, especially compared to those who are not aware of it.

This suggests that investing in helping people understand their Purpose is essential to achieving fulfillment.

Another Solution: Peer Coaching

Teams and colleagues who engage in peer-to-peer coaching relationships are nearly twice as likely to feel fulfilled compared to their colleagues who do not participate in these transformative conversations (2019 Workforce Purpose Index, Imperative). This is due to the type of relationship that develops when you “coach” your coworker—and vice versa.

Employees who participate in peer coaching have greater clarity, report better performance, build meaningful connections with colleagues, experience personal growth, have a growth mindset, feel psychologically safe, and are more likely to stay with the company longer (2019 Workforce Purpose Index, Imperative).

The proposed solutions—ranging from self-awareness to peer coaching—offer promising ways to transform our work experience and, by extension, our lives. This call to action falls not only on companies and leaders, but also on every individual seeking a meaningful life.

You can read the original article in English here