Building Positive Motivation: The Power of Meaning in Life and Work
Positive motivation is one of the more difficult but effective leadership skills we can develop in today’s hectic workplace. It's often motivation that sustains long-term engagement and fulfilment in addition to propelling us through obstacles and deadlines.
How do your motivational techniques stack up? And have you ever given the fundamentals of motivation any thought?
My observations and the many perspectives of leadership and psychology tell us, one of the main driving forces for human motivation is our perpetual quest for meaning. The word "meaning" is frequently used, but what does it actually imply and why is it so important?
Let's break this down...
The Search for Meaning is at the Core of Human Motivation
The human mind seeks meaning as a fundamental aspect of its functioning, driven by its role in understanding the world, managing emotions, maintaining balance, building resilience, and carrying out purposeful behavior. It is therefore important to remember that we are wired to find meaning in all that surrounds us. Even in the most impossible of circumstances, our minds seek to find meaning and purpose.
Famous psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl wrote a wonderful piece of literature that retold his experiences in Auschwitz, the largest of the German Nazi concentration camps and extermination centers. Through his book, Viktor is able to illustrate the simple concept of this deep desire we have to discover meaning. [1] [3]
In the face of suffering, “He who has a why to live for, can bear almost any how”. [5]
In his groundbreaking book - Man's Search for Meaning [4] , Frankl does a simple yet beautiful job of emphasising that even in extreme suffering, individuals can find purpose by choosing their attitude towards their circumstances. He observed that those who maintained hope and a sense of purpose were more likely to survive the camps.
He covers a number of ideas;
Will to Meaning: a driving force in human life is the search for meaning.
Meaning in Suffering: those finding meaning in suffering are better able to endure and preserve their humanity.
Freedom & Responsibility: humans always retain the freedom to choose their response despite environmental conditions.
Logotherapy: Frankl’s psychotherapeutic method, focuses on helping individuals discover meaning in their lives. It views “responsibleness” as central to human existence and encourages people to confront life’s questions as if life itself is questioning them.
Optimism Amid Adversity: even in dire circumstances, individuals could transform their perspective and find meaning.
The idea of the Will to Meaning is of particular interest to me in the context of motivation. Frankl argues that the primary driving force in human life is the search for meaning.
He then identifies three sources of meaning [6]:
Creative work: Achieving or creating something.
Experiential engagement: Experiencing love, beauty, or nature.
Attitudinal stance: Facing unavoidable suffering with dignity and purpose. [3]
How Culture comes into play in the search for meaning
With all that being said, it is quite obvious that not everyone experiences the search for meaning in the same way. Culture has a significant influence on it and should be taken into consideration when leading a diverse group of people.
Two unique cultural poles can be described as these:
Individualistic cultures (like the US): Feeling fulfilled and looking for meaning have an inverse relationship here. In the face of social pressure to "go it alone," many people may find it difficult to find their purpose.
Collectivist cultures (like Japan): People from these cultures actively seek meaning and tend to feel more fulfilled because they perceive their mission as being intertwined with their communities. [2]
It is essential to unpack and understand cultural distinctions as leaders, to support the growing number of multinational teams we find at work. Stronger, more inclusive workplaces can be created by leaders who recognise and value these differences.
Historical Context: A Changing Relationship with Meaning
While culture plays a big role, it’s important to understand how our connection with meaning has changed significantly throughout the course of history. Some examples of changes to get you thinking includes these :
Image Source: Forbes
The decline of traditional sources: There used to be obvious routes to meaning through established institutions like religion and extended family groupings. These no longer have as much of an impact in many societies as they used to.
The rise of individualism: People are being asked to create their own meaning in modern life more and more, which frequently results in both liberation and existential fear. A burden we often see in our younger generations with the rise of isolation coupled with social media influences. [8]
Discontentment with progress: Despite amazing social and technological developments, a lot of individuals are dissatisfied, wondering if contemporary "progress" is in line with their own values and happiness. One could argue this is a direct byproduct of rising individualism and commercialism. [1] [3]
By being aware of these changes, leaders can be aware of how contemporary settings can either encourage or hinder their teams' motivation and feeling of purpose.
So, how can we create spaces that inspire and motivate people?
Here are 3 key steps I would encourage leaders to plan for:
1. Recognise the drive for individual accomplishment and potential - We are often motivated by a sense of achievement and potential as well as by benefits from outside sources. Employees want to believe that their individual work is important and that their efforts are making a difference.
“There is meaning in what I do”
Develop a team culture that encourages people to see their own potential.
Build rituals that reflect a sense of achievement, whether it is by skill improvement, professional advancement, or acknowledging effort. *Remember the areas where we seek meaning that apply in this context; accomplishment, relationships and facing unavoidable suffering.
2. What gets measured gets done - In a world where everyone is juggling multiple priorities, it’s easy for the collectives’ efforts to go unrecognised. One way to stay aligned with our team’s sense of meaning is to ensure that performance is measurable & visible. Not for the sake of metrics alone, but as a way to track progress and collectively celebrate success.
“I can see what is meaningful around here”
Make performance frequently transparent, helping individuals see how they contribute to the collective purpose.
Create frequent signals for the team which demonstrate the higher level purpose of the work, helping people stay focused and motivated.
3. Adapting to change - Accepting change is crucial to sustaining long-term motivation and is a key leadership challenge in any organisation today. Due to the meaning that individuals give to work, we must understand how change can act as a double edged sword. For example, in some circumstances individuals find meaning in work that can be ‘mastered’, versus work that is ‘complex’ or even ‘who’ they get to do the work with or for.
All of which can be hampered by change. Interruptions or changes in direction can be highly disruptive to the ‘masterer’, versus ‘just another challenge’ to those that thrive on the complex, with multiple layers of potential disruption for the relationship focused.
“Meaning isn’t fixed”
Develop an empathetic approach to change for your team, ensuring sufficient time for individuals to process changes so that ‘new meaning’ can be found.
Identify methods for your collective team to discuss where the opportunities might be in disruptive times.
Follow through with different methods of support.
The Importance of Meaning in Leadership and Team Motivation
In the end, we realise that finding meaning is a practical endeavour rather than a philosophical one.
Leaders that support the pursuit of meaning can spark resilience, inventiveness, and a sustained drive in their organisation. Finding meaning is a continuous process that entails examining and expressing what is important to others around you. It cannot be resolved with one-off attempts.
Today’s leaders should begin by establishing work settings where individuals aren't merely performing tasks but are instead achieving a purpose. Team members can discover their own fulfilling path within the company, whether it be via relationships, creative endeavours, work achievements or learning to overcome hardship.
As we step into the new year, take a moment to sit with the knowledge that the desire for significance is a powerful motivator - not just an aspirational goal. It is a foundation you can use to create an empowering environment at work or even at home, enabling us to thrive in an ever-evolving world.
Sources
[1] [PDF] Chapter 4 The search for meaning https://asmre.org/rfl/Ch04-TheSearchForMeaning.pdf
[2] Search for Meaning in Life - iResearchNet - Psychology https://psychology.iresearchnet.com/social-psychology/prosocial-behavior/search-for-meaning-in-life/
[3] Finding life's purpose with Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning https://achology.com/psychology/finding-lifes-purpose-with-viktor-frankls-mans-search-for-meaning/
[4] Man's Search for Meaning - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man's_Search_for_Meaning
[5] The Human Search for Meaning - Farnam Street https://fs.blog/frankl-human-search-for-meaning/
[6] Viktor Frankl on the Human Search for Meaning - The Marginalian https://www.themarginalian.org/2013/03/26/viktor-frankl-mans-search-for-meaning/
[7] Man's Search For Meaning: The classic tribute to hope from the ... https://www.amazon.com.au/Mans-Search-Meaning-Viktor-Frankl/dp/1846041244
[8] Are You Searching for Meaning? Here's What You're Doing Wrong https://www.happify.com/hd/are-you-searching-for-meaning/
