My business partner recently blogged on the topic of meaningful work and I encourage you to read it when you get a minute http://imethodsinc.com/blog. He eloquently and directly speaks to the subject of finding meaning at work. While I agree wholeheartedly with his viewpoint I thought I would add one additional, dare I say pragmatic, tidbit.
Over the last couple of decades predominate management philosophy was based on an intense focus on improving on your weaknesses. Some larger companies called these strategies, “Opportunities for Improvement”. Well, if you were ever a part of one of these companies, and chances are your were or still are, you know how futile and frustrating this is. While it is important to minimize your weaknesses in your employment you should spend the vast majority of your precious time focused squarely on your strengths. When you focus your time and effort on these strengths or talents then you have a near direct correlation to meaningful work.
You might be thinking, “I wish I focused on my strengths everyday” or you may be thinking “I don’t know if I really am focused on my strengths and honestly, I am not sure I even know what they are in the workplace.” Whichever one you are thinking, take heart – you are not alone. Most people in this country think those same thoughts everyday.
Well, Medical Methods was no different a couple of years ago until we ran into an author and expert on strengths – Marcus Buckingham. He has worked for many years on the subject and has been leading a “strengths revolution” of sorts around the globe. The good news is that he wrote a book, “Now, Discover your Strengths,” where you can take an online survey and identify your strengths in a matter of minutes. Our whole staff has taken the survey, knows there strengths and has development plans that are reinforced weekly to help them focus most of their precious time on the things that they are most gifted at and enjoy the most. This has created an incredible workplace filled with people engaged at work and yes even enjoying it. While this is sounds daunting it is really not as hard as it sounds.
- Purchase “Now, Discover your Strengths”.
- Take the online survey.
- Start identifying how much of the work you do actually plays to your strengths.
- Begin to architect a long term plan to minimize your weaknesses and the things you like least about your work and build a plan (and potentially a job or role change) based upon your strengths, talents and things you enjoy.
We all know plenty of people (when I say that I mean most of the people on this planet) that loathe their work. They likely are doing things that are not good at or dislike doing most of the time. However, we all know people (when I say that I mean a very small percentage of the people on this planet and hope you are one of them) that finds their work challenging, fun, exciting, and yep…meaningful. These people have found roles, companies, and leaders that focus their precious time on their strengths most of the time. Once you are on this path it makes your perspective change on all of the significant contributions you are making everyday in your job, in your community and even at home. It liberates and energizes you to do MEANINGFUL things while at work and away.
One additional note: knowing your strengths can be an essential part of your job search. If you understand your strengths well it can help you identify the right job, role and company to work for. Also, it can help you get the right job. How? Well, let’s say you were one of two candidates vying for 1 position and the manager said, “why should I hire you over the other candidate?” to which you said, “Well, I have researched my strengths and in addition to my clinical skills and experience that fit perfectly here I know that my development strength will be put to good use in marketing to physicians as well as my maximizer strength which will help me take your current processes and make them better over time…” And so on. Do you think this would help your chances of getting that job? You bet.