Skip to main content

Introduction

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
  • 309 Accesses

Part of the book series: Future of Business and Finance ((FBF))

Abstract

Increasingly, people are feeling like their lives lack a sense of meaning. Many people are looking to work to fill their lives with meaning. However, work often does not fill the meaningfulness void. When people do not find meaning in their work, they are less productive and more likely to quit. When people are able to do meaningful work, they are more physically and emotionally healthy, more satisfied with their job, more productive, less likely to quit, and the entire organization performs better. So how can people get all these great benefits from meaningful work? The common advice is to “follow your passion.” The reality is the other way around. The research on which this book is based found that people who first answer a calling to fulfill their life’s purpose then experience meaning in their work and following that become passionate about their work. 

We work to make a living, as we must. But is work just a matter of making a living? Or is there something more to it…Does it fill our lives with meaning, purpose, satisfaction, and self-fulfillment…Or…Is it, at best, a necessary evil?

Hardy, 1990, 4–5

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    See author’s note, p. 148.

References

  • Achor, S., Reece, A., Kellerman, G. R., & Robichaux, A. (2018). 9 out of 10 people are willing to earn less money to do more meaningful work. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2018/11/9-out-of-10-people-are-willing-to-earn-less-money-to-do-more-meaningful-work.

  • Arnoux-Nicolas, C., Sovet, L., Lhotellier, L., Di Fabio, A., & Bernaud, J.-L. (2016). Perceived work conditions and turnover intentions: The mediating role of meaning of work. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 704. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00704

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bartlett, C. (2002). Closing the strategic generation gap. In H. Hesselbein & R. Johnston (Eds.), On mission and leadership: A leader to leader guide (pp. 103–114). New York: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baum, S. K., & Stewart, R. B. (1990). Sources of meaning through the lifespan. Psychological Reports, 67, 3–14. https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.1990.67.1.3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baumeister, R. F. (1991). Meanings of life. New York: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baykal, E. (2019). Creating organizational commitment through spiritual leadership: Mediating effect of meaning at work. Business & Management Studies: An International Journal, 7(2), 837–855. https://doi.org/10.15295/bmij.v7i2.1113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1997). Finding flow: The psychology of engagement with everyday life. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2003). Good business: Leadership, flow, and the making of meaning. New York: Penguin Group.

    Google Scholar 

  • Danaher, J. (2017). Will life be worth living in a world without work? Technological unemployment and the meaning of life. Science and Engineering Ethics, 23, 41. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-016-9770-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deal, J. J., Altman, D. G., & Rogelberg, S. G. (2010). Journal of Business and Psychology, 25, 191–199. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-010-9177-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dehler, G., & Welsh, M. (1994). Spirituality and organizational transformation: Implications for the new management paradigm. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 9(6), 17–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., & Lucas, R. E. (2000). Subjective emotional well-being. In M. Lewis & J. M. Haviland (Eds.), Handbook of emotions (2nd ed., pp. 325–337). New York: Guilford. Retrieved November 10, 2004, from http://www.psych.uiuc.edu/~ediener/hottopic/paper2.html

    Google Scholar 

  • Erickson, T. (2011). Meaning is the new money. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2011/03/challenging-our-deeply-held-as/.

  • Frankl, V. E. (1984). Man’s search for meaning: An introduction to logotherapy (3rd ed.). New York: Simon & Schuster.

    Google Scholar 

  • French, M. L. (2006). The alignment between personal meaning and organizational mission among music executives: A study of happiness, job satisfaction, and responsibility toward employees. (Doctoral dissertation, Pepperdine University, 2006). Dissertation Abstracts International, 67(11).

    Google Scholar 

  • Galen, M., & West, K. (1995, June). Companies hit the road less travelled: Can spirituality enlighten the bottom line? Business Week, 5, 82–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gini, A. (1998). Work, identity and self: How we are formed by the work we do. Journal of Business Ethics, 17(7), 707–714. Retrieved from www.jstor.org/stable/25073117

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greenleaf, R. K. (1970). The servant as leader. Cambridge, MA: Center for Applied Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardy, L. (1990). The fabric of this world: Inquiries into calling, career choice, and the design of human work. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, K. J., Kacmar, K. M., & Zivnuska, S. (2007). An investigation of abusive supervision as a predictor of performance and the meaning of work as a moderator of the relationship. The Leadership Quarterly, 18, 252–263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2007.03.007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hill, P. C., & Smith, G. S. (2003). Coming to terms with spirituality and religion in the workplace. In R. A. Giacalone & C. L. Jurkiewicz (Eds.), Handbook of workplace spirituality and organizational performance (pp. 231–243). Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, A. J. (2003). Reconciling professional and personal value systems: The spiritually motivated manager an organizational entrepreneur. In R. A. Giacalone & C. L. Jurkiewicz (Eds.), Handbook of workplace spirituality and organizational performance (pp. 193–208). Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu, J., & Hirsh, J. B. (2017). Accepting lower salaries for meaningful work. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 1649. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01649

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hurst, A., Pearce, A., Erickson, C., Parish, S., Vesty, L., Schnidman, A., et al. (2016). Purpose at work—The largest global study on the role of purpose in the workforce. Retrieved from https://cdn.imperative.com/media/public/Global_Purpose_Index_2016.pdf.

  • Imperative. (2015). 2015 Workforce purpose index. New York: New York University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keynes, J. M. (1930). Economic possibilities for our grandchildren II. The Nation and Athenaeum, 48(3), 96–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolodinsky, R. W., Bowen, M. G., & Ferris, G. R. (2003). Embracing workplace spirituality and managing organizational politics: Servant leadership and political skill for volatile times. In R. A. Giacalone & C. L. Jurkiewicz (Eds.), Handbook of workplace spirituality and organizational performance (pp. 164–180). Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leigh, P. (1997). The new spirit at work. Training & Development, 5(3), 26–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marrs, R. (2002). Calling or career: Toward a theology of vocation. The Pepperdine voyage: Nurturing lives of purpose, service, and leadership. Malibu, CA: Pepperdine University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martela, F., & Riekki, T. J. J. (2018). Autonomy, competence, relatedness, and beneficence: A multicultural comparison of the four pathways to meaningful work. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 1157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mathieson, K., & Miree, C. E. (2003). Illuminating the invisible: IT and self-discovery in the workplace. In R. A. Giacalone & C. L. Jurkiewicz (Eds.), Handbook of workplace spirituality and organizational performance (pp. 164–180). Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCormick, D. (1994). Spirituality and management. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 9(6), 5–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitroff, I., & Denton, E. (1999). A spiritual audit of corporate America: Multiple designs for fostering spirituality in the workplace. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitroff, I., Mason, R., & Pearson, C. (1994, May). Radical surgery: What will tomorrow’s organizations look like? Academy of Management Executive, 8(2), 11–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murray, M. (1995, October 19). Tackling workplace problems with prayer. Wall Street Journal (Eastern Edition), B1, B12.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2017). Information Technology and the U.S. Workforce: Where are we and where do we go from here? Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/24649

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Neal, J. (2018). Overview of the field of workplace spirituality: A literature review. Retrieved from the Management, Spirituality & Religion Community: Connect Website, Discussion & Library. Retrieved from https://msr.aom.org/viewdocument/overview-of-workplace-spirituality.

  • Neck, C., & Milliman, J. (1994). Thought self-leadership: Finding spiritual fulfilment in organizational life. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 9(6), 9–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Net Impact. (2012). Talent report: What workers want in 2012. San Francisco, CA: Net Impact.

    Google Scholar 

  • Osborne, R. (1995). Company with soul. Industry Week, 244(9).

    Google Scholar 

  • Paloutzian, R. F., Emmons, R. A., & Keortge, S. G. (2003). Spiritual well-being, spiritual intelligence, and healthy workplace policy. In R. A. Giacalone & C. L. Jurkiewicz (Eds.), Handbook of workplace spirituality and organizational performance (pp. 123–136). Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robbins, A., & Wilner, A. (2001). The quarterlife crisis: The unique challenges of life in your twenties. New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schultze, G., & Miller, C. (2004). The search for meaning and career development. Career Development International, 9(2), 142–152. Retrieved March 28, 2005, from ProQuest database.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scroggins, W. A. (2008). Antecedents and outcomes of experienced meaningful work: A person-job fit perspective. Journal of Business Inquiry, 7, 68–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Segal, D. (1995). Trying to profit from parables. The Washington Post, D12+.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steger, M. F., & Dik, B. J. (2009). If one is looking for meaning in life, does it help to find meaning in work? Applied Psychology. Health and Well-Being, 1, 303–320. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1758-0854.2009.01018.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steger, M. F., Dik, B. J., & Duffy, R. D. (2012). Measuring meaningful work the work and meaning inventory (WAMI). Journal of Career Assessment, 20, 322–337. https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072711436160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steger, M. F., Pickering, N. K., Shin, J. Y., & Dik, B. J. (2010). Calling in work: Secular or sacred? Journal of Career Assessment, 18(1), 82–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, F. W. (1911). The principles of scientific management. New York: Harper & Brothers.

    Google Scholar 

  • The Conference Board. (2005). U.S. job satisfaction keeps falling. The Conference Board reports today. Retrieved February 28, 2005, from http://www.conference-board.org/utilities/pressDetail.cfm?press_ID=2582.

  • Thompson, D. (2019, February 24). Workism is making Americans miserable. The Atlantic. Retrieved from https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/02/religion-workism-making-americans-miserable/583441/.

  • Wolcott, R. C. (2018). How automation will change work, purpose, and meaning. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2018/01/how-automation-will-change-work-purpose-and-meaning.

  • Wrzesniewski, A., McCauley, C., Rozin, P., & Schwartz, B. (1997). Jobs, careers, and callings: People’s relations to their work. Journal of Research in Personality, 31(1), 21–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

French-Holloway, M. (2020). Introduction. In: A New Meaning-Mission Fit. Future of Business and Finance. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41164-0_1

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics