This week’s Mindful Monday is a little different. We talk about Work and Purpose. It’s a post inspired by U.S based Imperative who recently released their 2015 Workforce Purpose Index. It makes for a fascinating read and although the study is U.S centric there are some insights that are very relevant for the Australian workforce.
According to the study workers with a purpose orientation are the most valuable and highest potential segment of the workforce regardless of industry or role. These Purpose orientated workers not only seek out purpose in their work, they create it and, as a result, out perform the rest of the workforce. They work and thrive in every industry and role from accountants at professional service firms to the farmers growing our food to the designers at creative agencies. According to Imperative, purpose driven workers are the foundation for successful organisations, a thriving economy, and a healthy society overall. On every measure, purpose orientated workers have better outcomes than their peers: 20% longer expected tenure, 50% more likely in leadership positions, 47% more likely to be promoters of their employers and 64% higher levels of fulfilment in their work.
To understand the significance of these figures let’s look at what work orientation is. According to Imperative it is a psychological pre-disposition to the role of work in life. It is a stable mindset throughout one’s career that transcends a specific job or employer. Some people see work in their lives as solely a source of income or status. Others are orientated to see work as primarily about purpose – personal fulfilment and helping other people.
As I have been re-imagining the purpose of Absolute Colour moving forward, I’ve focused on making our team and clients ‘be outstanding’. It’s an expression that we ‘walk the talk’. It’s really all about purpose. Yes, we produce wonderful print collateral in innovative and creative ways. But it is the pleasure I get in working with clients to deliver results that amaze and the joy that our regular roundtable meetups brings and that inspires me on many levels. It is about working in Colour. It is about encouraging people to be the best they can be. We all have a tremendous opportunity before us to define the success of our workforce by more than low unemployment rates, salaries and engagement. It is about people, the number of members of our community who are purpose orientated. We should be empowering our teams to tailor their work to build strong relationships, make a meaningful impact, and grow perosnally and professionally. I’d love to hear your thoughts?
