Season 9 Episode 14: Meaningful Work with Tamara Myles and Wes Adams

Season 9 Episode 14: Meaningful Work with Tamara Myles and Wes Adams

Introduction

In a world where job satisfaction often feels elusive, how can leaders cultivate environments where employees find genuine meaning in their work? On this episode of The Thermostat Podcast, host Jason V. Barger welcomes back Tamara Myles and Wes Adams, co-authors of the new book, Meaningful Work: How to Ignite Passion and Performance in Every Employee, to explore this critical question. Myles and Adams, researchers and instructors of positive psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, and consultants to Fortune 500 companies, share insights from their extensive research on what truly makes work meaningful – and it’s not just about the paycheck.

Summary The main idea of meaningful work and what makes work meaningful. Community, Contribution and Challenge are the 3 C’s and are based on 5 years of research. Jason, Tamara, and Wes, look at what leaders are doing and what trends are surfacing on finding meaning in your work.

Beyond the Paycheck: Defining Meaningful Work

Myles and Adams emphasize that meaningful work isn’t solely determined by what we do, but rather by how we experience our work. They identify three key elements – the “3 C’s” – that are essential for fostering a sense of meaning:

• Community: Feeling a sense of belonging, being valued, and being able to show up authentically.
• Contribution: Understanding the positive impact of one’s work on the team, the organization, or even the wider community.
• Challenge: Having opportunities to grow, learn, and stretch one’s abilities, with the appropriate support.

Notable Quote: “Work is meaningful when it provides more than a paycheck… Meaningful work is not necessarily about what we do, but rather how we experience work.” – Tamara Myles

The Alarming Trend (and the Opportunity)

The conversation highlights a concerning statistic: 9 out of 10 people are willing to take a pay cut for more meaningful work. This underscores a significant shift in employee priorities, with individuals actively seeking roles that align with their values and provide a sense of purpose. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for organizations. The challenge is to retain talent in a competitive market; the opportunity is to create cultures that attract and engage employees by prioritizing meaning.

Notable Quote: “9 out of 10 people are willing to take a more meaningful job somewhere else for less money… They’re willing to trade 25% of their lifetime earnings for more [meaning].” – Tamara Myles

Building Community: It Starts with Connection

Myles emphasizes the importance of genuine connection in fostering a sense of community. Leaders are encouraged to get to know their team members on a personal level, understanding their lives outside of work. Simple questions like, “What did you do this weekend?” or “What book are you reading?” can make a significant difference. Companies like HubSpot are highlighted as examples of organizations intentionally building community, even during challenging times like the pandemic, by offering support tailored to their employees’ specific needs.

Notable Quote: “Do you know what’s happening in your employees’ or your teams’ lives outside of work?… If you’re a leader listening to this podcast right now, do you know what your team did this weekend? Do you know what book they are reading or the last book they loved? Do you know their spouses’ names or what sports their kids play?” – Tamara Myles

Contribution: The Power of Positive Feedback

Adams points out that leaders have a powerful, yet often underutilized, tool at their disposal: positive feedback. Regularly acknowledging and appreciating employees’ contributions, specifically highlighting the impact of their work, can significantly boost their sense of meaning. Simple acts, like a weekly thank-you note or a “gratitude jar,” can create a ripple effect, fostering a culture of appreciation.

Notable Quote: “…feedback is a huge part of understanding that our work matters to others, especially positive feedback, and this is something that leaders have almost complete control over… One thank you once a week from a manager was enough to cut disengagement and burnout in half.” – Wes Adams

Challenge: Stretching and Supporting

The final “C,” challenge, involves creating opportunities for employees to grow and develop their skills. This isn’t about overwhelming people; it’s about providing a balance of challenge and support. Myles shares a personal anecdote about a leader who believed in her potential, pushing her outside her comfort zone while providing the necessary guidance. This “one hand on your back, one hand under your arm” approach is key to fostering growth and a sense of accomplishment.

Notable Quote: “We are at our best when we are feeling challenged but supported…when we’re stretched and supported.” – Tamara Myles

Meaning in Action: Exemplar Organizations

The conversation highlights several organizations that are successfully cultivating meaningful work environments, including:

• HubSpot: Known for its intentional efforts to build community, even during remote work.
• Patagonia: Emphasizes values-aligned recruiting and onboarding, ensuring employees connect with the company’s mission from day one.
• Calendly: Demonstrates how even in a seemingly “unexciting” industry (scheduling software), organizations can connect employees’ work to its positive impact on customers.
• Barry-Wehmiller: Led by CEO Bob Chapman, who champions “human-centered leadership” focused on creating meaning and mattering for all employees.

Notable Quote: “…meaning is not about the work that you do or the industry you’re in. It’s about how you experience it…and leaders can help people find meaning in the jobs that they already have.” – Tamara Myles

The Shift from Transactional to Transformational Leadership

A key takeaway from the discussion is the need to move away from a purely transactional view of work (I pay you to do X) to a transformational approach. This involves recognizing employees as whole individuals, fostering genuine connections, and creating a culture where everyone feels valued, challenged, and connected to a larger purpose.

The Role of Leaders Notable Quote: “…our research is all about providing leaders with the tools to be able to create environments where there are more moments of meaningful work and you know leaders account for about half of how meaningful we find our work. So there’s a huge impact that leaders have here.” – Wes Adams

Questions to Ponder:

1. How can you foster a greater sense of community, contribution, and challenge within your own team or organization?
2. What small steps can you take to provide more specific and impactful positive feedback to your colleagues?
3. How can you create opportunities for your team members to stretch their skills while providing the support they need to succeed?
4. Are you leading transactionally or transformationally?

This episode provides valuable insights and actionable strategies for leaders seeking to create more meaningful work environments, ultimately leading to increased employee engagement, well-being, and organizational success.

Links and References

For more insights and practical tips, be sure to check out Jason V Barger’s book Breathing Oxygen. This book dives deeper into the concepts discussed in this episode and provides additional strategies for fostering a positive mindset and effective leadership.

Visit instagram.com/tamaramyles and instagram.com/wesadams1 as referenced in this podcast follow them on Instagram

Visit them online and learn more at www.makeworkmeaningful.com

Buy the New Book from Tamara Myles and Wes Adams out now!

https://www.amazon.com/Meaningful-Work-Passion-Performance-Employee/dp/1541704533/ref=sr_1_1

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By incorporating these practices into your summer routine, you can breathe new life into your personal and professional endeavors. Remember, as Jason says, “The best leaders, teams, and cultures on the planet stimulate progress by recalibrating their thermostat together.”

Our next episode will feature more great episodes on leadership. Stay Tuned!