What is Meaningful Work (& Tips for Success)
I love moments of reflection, but it may not be for the reasons you think.
There’s something powerful about pausing to consider what I’ve learned and using that insight to set more intentional goals for meaningful work.
These moments of reflection and creation—whether sparked by a milestone, a transition, or simply the desire to grow—give meaning to the past, present, and the future.
From Reflection to Meaningful Work
In coaching executive leaders, I have also found that these same experiences of reflecting and crafting provide a sense of meaning to their personal and professional lives as well. And it doesn’t stop there.
When leaders invite their teams to also think about what they’ve learned and share where they’d like to go next, engagement increases.
That’s because they have been given the space and opportunity to connect their learning, remember their purpose, and invest in their future.
We know that meaningful work is important to ourselves and our teams, but how do we go about bringing meaning into our daily lives and workplace settings?
The quick answer is to set goals. But do not be fooled. There is a lot more to meaningful goal setting than writing a few words down on paper.
How to Set Goals That Lead to Meaningful Work
#1 Choose the One Thing That Will Add the Greatest Meaning
The first step to effective goal-setting is to identify what one thing will add the greatest meaning to your life.
Of course, you may have lots of ideas as to what that one thing is and might ask yourself:
“How will I choose?”
This is common and understandable, and yet the best way to set yourself up for success is to:
- Start small
- Focus on one thing at a time.
This laser focus will help you achieve your goal much faster.
Once you complete one goal, you will be able to see more clearly what goal you need to make next to reach your destination. You will see that second breadcrumb soon enough.
For now, focus on one thing—the thing that will bring the most meaning.
#2 Craft Your Goal as Though You Have Already Achieved It
The next step is to craft your goal as though you have already achieved it. Our subconscious mind does not know what is real and what isn’t. So, when we frame what we want to accomplish as though it already is or has happened, our subconscious believes this.
It then creates behaviors that are in alignment with this “reality,” making it more likely for us to achieve what we set out to.
Make Your Goal Specific and Actionable
For example, if your one thing is to build better relationships with your team, what actions will you take to do that?
You might check in with each member for the first 5 minutes of your day.
So, your goal may be:
“I spend 30 minutes each day on 5-minute check-ins with each team member, aiming for every conversation to surface a need, idea, or win.“
Also, make sure that your goal is realistic.
Is it possible to spend the first 5 minutes of your day with each member of your team? If you have a team of 50 people, this will take a little over 4 hours. This may not be a realistic goal.
However, there is nothing to say that you cannot break down your goal and say,
“I spend 30 minutes of my day checking in for 5 minutes of each day with team members on a rotating schedule so that I am talking with each team member weekly one-on-one. This helps me improve my relationships with my team members.”
Designing your goal in this way means that all 50 members will be able to check in with you every week while you are spending half an hour each day engaged in these 5-minute check-ins.
You are starting small and yet making a huge impact.
#3 Plan for Inevitable Barriers
Stanford University Psychologist and TED Talk speaker, Kelly McGonigal has said,
“Your task is not to avoid failures, but plan for them.”
When it comes to goal setting, this is extremely important.
Obstacles and barriers are inevitable on any journey, especially those meaningful ones, and your first reaction to change or challenge may be resistance.
However, if you:
- Identify potential challenges ahead of time
- Have a plan for how you will overcome them
…you are far more likely to move beyond these challenges and find success in meaningful work and achieving your goals.
So, go deep here and ask yourself:
- What would happen if you didn’t meet your goal.
- What has kept you from what you want in the past?
- How might things look if you continue not to achieve your goals?
Just as it takes courage to imagine possibilities and success, there is courage in honestly and acknowledgment.
#4 Share It Out with Others
Share your goal as well as the steps you are going to take to reach your goal and your plan for overcoming those inevitable barriers with others. You might tell a friend or colleague.
This is also a great opportunity to invite your team to support you and, at the same time, be an example to them of the power of goal setting. These updates don’t have to be long. A five minute report and reflection on your progress will suffice.
Why Sharing Your Goals Matters
The purpose of sharing your goal and progress with others is to:
- Keep you accountable
- Have a sounding board to talk through challenges
- Receive encouragement and along the way
- Celebrate your learning and success
BONUS: Add even more meaning to the work you are doing by being an accountability partner for others as well.
When we:
- Focus on the one thing that will bring greater meaning
- Are clear in what we are going after
- Plan for the challenges that are sure to come by creating solutions now
- Invite others into our journey of process and achievement
…we discover that what we are doing as a leader is meaningful work.
Lead Your Team Toward Purposeful, Meaningful Work
Looking to learn more about setting powerful goals and becoming a more effective leader and team?
We offer goal setting workshops, strategies, and one-on-one or team coaching focused on goal setting.
Contact us to learn more about our executive coaching opportunities and our signature leadership development program. We will talk soon.