Purpose, Meaning, and Passion

by Harvard Business Review, Morten T. Hansen, Teresa M. Amabile

Find your purpose at work.

In an ideal world, our work lives would be completely fulfilling and intrinsically motivating.

But what if you're stuck in a job and your heart isn't in it anymore? Or what if your company's mission seems unrelated to the work you do day in and day out? This book showcases the power of passion--and how you and your team can find it at work.

This volume includes the work

Morten T. HansenTeresa M. AmabileScott A. SnookNick Craig

This collection of articles includes "Finding Meaning at Work, Even When Your Job Is Dull," by Morten Hansen and Dacher Keltner; "What to Do When Your Heart Isn't in Your Work Anymore," by Andy Molinsky; "You Don’t Find Your Purpose--You Build It," by John Coleman; "How to Find Meaning in a Job That Isn't Your True Calling," by Emily Esfahani Smith; "You're Never Done Finding Purpose at Work," by Dan Pontefract; "From Purpose to Impact," by Nick Craig and Scott A. Snook; "Five Questions to Help Your Employees Find Their Inner Purpose," by Kristi Hedges; "How to Make Work More Meaningful for Your Team," by Lewis Garrad and Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic; "The Power of Small Wins," by Teresa M. Amabile and Steven J. Kramer; and "The Founder of TOMS on Reimagining the Company's Mission," by Blake Mycoskie.

HOW TO BE HUMAN AT WORK.

The HBR Emotional Intelligence Series features smart, essential reading on the human side of professional life from the pages of Harvard Business Review. Each book in the series offers proven research showing how our emotions impact our work lives, practical advice for managing difficult people and situations, and inspiring essays on what it means to tend to our emotional well-being at work. Uplifting and practical, these books describe the social skills that are critical for ambitious professionals to master.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Leadership, Psychology, Audiobook, Self Help, Personal Growth

105 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 17, 2018

Reviews

[Jeainny · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book helped me make sense of purpose, how to find it, and why we should find it. Searching for my purpose now feels less stressful and appears less elusive.

From reading this, it seems as though having a purpose adds great benefits to your life such as longevity and good health. There exists both practical and emotionally satisfying drivers to finding your purpose.

Unlike most self-help, discover-thyself books, which tell you how to follow your passion and purpose (which assumes that you already know what you want) this book offers you tools to find out what it is you want.

[Anis · Rating 4 out of 5]

La historia de la empresa TOMS me encantó, un propósito de ayudar y contribuir a los más necesitados, excelente!! Consejos y ejemplos de mucha utilidad.

[Haur Bin Chua · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three myths of purpose:
1. It’s not that one thing
2. One don’t just find it, one has to build it
3. It’s ever changing

Five questions to find one’s purpose:
1. What are you good at?
2. What do you enjoy?
3. What feels most useful?
4. What creates a sense of forward momentum?
5. How do you relate to others?

Leaders’ personality characteristics that help others find jobs more meaningful:
1. Curious and inquisitive - create a sense of exploration and continuous learning amongst the team; open to new ideas
2. Challenging and relentless - make employees feel a sense of progress vs inertia and status quo
3. Hire for values and culture fit - can’t agree more. Best fit people might not be the most competent or experienced
4. Able to trust people - empowerment leads to sense of autonomy & higher level of accountability
5. Celebrate small wins - plant a flag to mark and recognise progress. While sounding trivial, plays a huge role in improving teams’ motivations. Be the catalyst and nourished to support progress and not toxins or inhibitors

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful viewpoints on avoiding jobs that feel like 'washing dishes' or 'hanging coats' and finding a job with meaning.

[Kristen Petrus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful little book with a unique take on staying driven.

[Ashley Lhérisson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read about finding meaning in all things. Insightful questions to help you determine your higher priorities for life and how work fits in. I especially liked chapter six: "From Purpose to Impact," on defining a leadership purpose for yourself and for your organization. The three main questions the authors encouraged readers to ask were:

(1) What did you especially love doing when you were a child, before the world told you what you should or shouldn't like or do? Describe a moment and how it made you feel.

(2) Tell me about two of your most challenging life experiences. How have they shaped you?

(3) What do you enjoy doing in your life now that helps you 'sing your song'

A helpful exercise the book included was to consider additional questions such as: What are you good at doing?; Which work activities require less effort for you?; What do you look forward to doing?; If you could design your job with no restrictions, how would you spend your time?; Which work outcomes make you most proud?; How is your work getting you closer to what you want for yourself?; and How does your work enhance your family and social connections?

[Nasran · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this book a 4.3, therefore doesn’t really warrant a 5. It’s not really a book but rather a compilation of articles in regards to passion and purpose. A lot of them are somewhat anecdotes and not really practical approaches but it does outlines some ideas that may help one find purpose and passion.

From the first article (or chapter) in the book it laid out short points on how one finds purpose particularly in the working area, and the rest of the book talks about managerial roles and how a leader may inspire passion and how a follow my create their passion and purpose.

It’s a good book for those who want a short and light read and some insightful ideas about life!

[City Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jammed packed with information. A person should read it one chapter a day, take notes, and reread to fully understand it this book. It may be small, but there’s plenty of information in within the pages.

[Priyanka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book with a bit of skepticism but it turned out to be a great read. It has lot of useful articles to derive meaning and purpose. There are a couple of articles that have actual steps and practical tips on how to reach one's purpose. So a great read!

[Boon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Consists of many articles from HBR. Some are quite good while some are quite difficult to read.

[Andrew Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid foundation of research to back up workplace leadership claims that sometimes contradict general consensus. Read it again before starting work/getting promoted/taking on more responsibility.

[Hülya Ertan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okuyunca sizi mutsuz eden işinizden istifa ediyorsunuz.

[angelina jin · Rating 3 out of 5]

too general and vague

[Daniel Ottenwalder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meaning at work is not about constant excitement or loving every task. It is about understanding why your work matters, even when the work itself is dull. Purpose comes from connecting what you do each day to values that extend beyond you and beyond the immediate task.

People find meaning through several channels. One is contribution, knowing your work helps others or advances something worthwhile. Another is growth, learning on the job, expanding your perspective, and increasing self awareness. Recognition also matters. Being seen and acknowledged builds confidence and reinforces self worth. Status and power can create meaning too, but only temporarily, unless they are grounded in real contribution. Finally, belonging and agency matter deeply. Feeling part of a community while retaining autonomy is a powerful driver of engagement.

When your heart is no longer in your work, the first step is diagnosis, not panic. Most people relate to work in one of three ways, as a job, a career, or a calling. The problem is not being in a job or career mindset. The problem is being stuck there unintentionally. Often the solution is not quitting, but reshaping parts of the role to better fit your needs or finding passion outside of work to rebalance your life. Sometimes, though, change is required. Outgrowing a role is natural, not failure.

Purpose is not something you discover fully formed. You build it. Meaning emerges when you understand who benefits from your work and why it matters to them. Reframing the narrative, from what you do to who you help, can transform how work feels, even if the tasks stay the same.

Not every job is a calling. In those cases, meaning can still be cultivated. Spend time with the people who benefit from your efforts. Remind yourself of the organization’s broader goals and how your role supports them. Purpose does not require passion every day. It requires alignment often enough to stay grounded.

Purpose is also dynamic. Where you find meaning changes as your life changes. How much time you invest in work, what you expect from it, and what you want it to give back all evolve. At any given moment, you are operating with some mix of three mindsets. A job mindset focused on security and pay. A career mindset focused on advancement, title, and influence. A purpose mindset focused on service and impact. None are wrong, but being unconscious about which one dominates leads to dissatisfaction.

The goal is not to eliminate the other mindsets, but to consciously integrate them. That requires a short personal declaration of purpose, something stable enough to ground you and flexible enough to adapt as your circumstances change. Purpose is less about certainty and more about direction.

Sources of meaning at work

Contribution, connecting work to values and impact
Growth, learning and expanding self awareness
Recognition, being seen and acknowledged
Status and power, meaningful only when tied to contribution
Belonging and agency, community with autonomy

When motivation fades

Assess whether you see work as a job, career, or calling
Explore reshaping parts of your role before exiting
Develop passions outside of work to counterbalance monotony
Accept that needs change over time

Building purpose

You do not find purpose, you build it
Identify who benefits from your work
Reframe tasks in terms of outcomes and impact
Shift focus from duties to service

Meaning in non calling jobs

Spend time with beneficiaries of your work
Reconnect to organizational goals
Anchor meaning in contribution, not excitement

Purpose over time

Purpose evolves with life stage and priorities
Daily reflection reveals which mindset dominates
Conscious choice beats default drift

Three work mindsets

Job mindset, income and security
Career mindset, advancement and recognition
Purpose mindset, service and broader mission

From purpose to impact

Clarify what resonates with you personally
Identify formative experiences and challenges
Articulate why your purpose matters now
Set long term and short term goals aligned to it

Questions to clarify purpose

What are you good at that others value
What work energizes you rather than drains you
What feels most useful or meaningful
What relationships at work matter most
What progress would make you proud

Leading with purpose

Curiosity and inquiry create engagement
Relentless improvement sustains momentum
Hire for values and culture fit
Trust people and reduce micromanagement

Small wins

Progress is the strongest motivator
Achievement fuels creativity and momentum

[Livinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is beyond my expectation! Instead of theoretical, the book also provides real life cases of purpose, meaning, and passion. The real life cases mostly come from the established companies. Personally, the content is well-written, well-structured, and easy to digest.

You will also find practical advice or exercise, for instance, there's a sample plan to put your purpose into actions on chapter 6. Frankly, I've been in deep contemplating for finding the purpose and meaning of my existence through my passion, job, and the people in my environment. I think this book has helped me in directing my thoughts toward the present time and how can I optimise my skills to create positive impacts on people's lives.

Chapter 8 on How to make work more meaningful for your team by Lewis Garrad and Thomas Chamorro-Premuzic has got my attention. They put forward that research consistently shows that people who experience meaningful work report better health, more well-being, and clearer sense of teamwork and engagement. People bounce back faster from setbacks and more likely to view mistakes as learning opportunities rather than failures. In other words, people at work who experience their job as meaningful are more likely to thrive and grow. This is why businesses with a stronger and clearer sense of purpose tend to perform better financially.

Over the past few decades, a great deal of research has shown that leaders play a significant role in helping employees understand why their roles matter. Furthermore, the leadership characteristics that enable these cultures of meaning and purpose to engage employees are a reflection of a leader's personality which has been proven to have a strong impact on team and organizational performance.

Research suggests four key personality characteristics that determine leaders' ability to make other people's job more meaningful, namely:
1. They are curious and inquisitive
In a way, curious leaders help employees find something meaningful by providing a wider range of possibilities for how work gets done, as opposed to being very prescriptive and micromanaging people.
2. They are challenging and relentless
One of the greatest problems organizations must solve is the inertia and stagnation that follow, or even anticipate, success. Leaders who remain ambitious in the face of both failure and success, and who push their people to remain dissatisfied with their accomplishments, instill a deeper sense of purpose in their teams and organizations. As a result employees feel a sense of progress, reinvention, and growth, which in turn results in a more meaningful and positive work experience.
3. They hire for values and culture fit
Research shows that people only find something valuable if it aligns with their core needs and motives. This is why the fit between an individual's personal values and the culture of the organization they work in is such an important driver of their performance. In fact, you're better off not hiring the "best" people but instead looking for those who are a good fit for your organization. Leaders who pay attention to what each individual values are more likely to hire people who will find it easier to connect with their colleagues and the wider organization, all of which help to drive a sense of meaning.
4. They are able to trust people
Overpowering and controlling bosses are a serious source of disempowerment for employees. They drain value from the work they do and make employees feel worthless. In stark contrast, leaders who know how to trust people are more likely to give them room to experiment and grow. To be a good leader, focus on helping employees find meaning in their achievements, rather than just enjoy their time at the office.

[Catalina Jimenez G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Purpose, Meaning, and Passion, as part of the HBR’s Emotional Intelligence series, is a thoughtful curation of published articles about these topics exactly; although I would say it focuses much more on purpose and meaning, and leaves passion to the reader’s responsibility.

It’s a very well-put-together compilation that follows a helpful structure, besides having an appealing design that makes it easy to read it all in one sitting. The book starts off with what seemed to me like a very pessimistic point of view. The first articles define purpose, its sources, and then state that it’s on you to make whatever job feel meaningful. Although I agree, it felt a bit harsh for a piece that is mostly directed toward people who are feeling miserable with what they currently do.

But… it takes a surprising and uplifting turn! The articles that follow focus on the importance of meaning; how to define your purpose, which will bring truly meaningful work; and research-based characteristics of a person who encourages this in their teams. The second half of the book is mostly directed toward managers, but what I love about these topics is that it applies to everything, even if it’s not work-related. After all, the ultimate goal of a manager is to help your team be the best they can be (and isn’t that what all humans should aim for?).

Definitely a good read to find valuable managerial insights and reminders. One I loved is the relationship between purpose and being clear on who you are; how being clear on this will extend to your goals and ways of achieving them. And although it states the obvious behaviors of an ideal manager/person, and acknowledges it, the various writers offer clear examples of how these sound, look, and apply in different scenarios. To sum up, let’s try to be curious, non-judgmental, trusting, and offer our support with work itself as well as interpersonal relationships. Most importantly, the book encourages us to endow everything we do with purpose.

My favorite chapters/articles:
- Chapter 6. From Purpose to Impact by Nick Craig and Scott A. Snook
- Chapter 10. The Founder of TOMS on Reimagining the Company’s Mission by Blake Mycoskie

And favorite quotes:
- “The key to engaging both the dreamers and the skeptics is to build a process that has room to express individuality but also offers step-by-step practical guidance.”
- “Even the best strategies will fail if managers ignore the people working in the trenches to execute it.”
- “When you have a clear sense of who you are, everything else follows naturally.”

[Mar de Luces · Rating 3 out of 5]

He ido leyéndome este libro durante mis ratos libres en el trabajo, pues está estructurado de una manera muy cómoda y visual, que hace amena y ágil la lectura.
No es un libro que me vaya a cambiar la vida, pero me ha resultado interesante, en tanto en cuanto, describe el proceso de creación de algunas grandes empresas o la manera en que sus CEO les han dado un giro para adecuar las empresas a su propósito.

Tiene frases manidas, como todo libro de autoayuda/desarrollo personal; por lo que creo que esta serie de Inteligencia Emocional pretende tener un enfoque más buenista sobre las relaciones laborales, que no se ajustan a la realidad por ambas partes (empresas y trabajadores).

En un mundo utópico, el ideal del trabajo sería tener unas fantásticas relaciones en nuestro entorno laboral, vivir nuestro trabajo con determinación y pasión, y permitir que seamos un poco más felices en el desarrollo de nuestro trabajo.
Es difícil alcanzarlo, porque no siempre todas las partes están de acuerdo en sus relaciones laborales, surgen conflictos, discrepancias y tensiones por el reconocimiento de los derechos en este ámbito.

Por tanto, hay cuestiones del libro que, desde una visión empresarial pueden servir; en cambio, si la lectura se lleva a cabo por un trabajador, creo que le va a interesar mucho menos o va a restar valor al contenido.

[Caro Raciti · Rating 3 out of 5]

This little book, or short AudioBook (a little over 2 hours) is a summary of different examples of people that found or built their purpose by using positive thinking and finding value on activities, no matter the task at hand that the person is performing.

By all means, everyone who works in a business has an impact no matter what their role is. I loved the example of the Nasa employee who was in charge of keeping the floors clean, and his positive attitude because he knew that everyone plays an important part of the whole.

I also loved the concept of multipurpose, because we as humans have many angles, so there isn't just one life purpose, there are many, and some of those, we can build ourselves, by growing and evolving, since we will acquire new skills and could be of service to more causes!

There are also some examples of when things can turn disappointing, depending on how managers react to certain challenging situations, but if they can see how their attitude has a big impact on the overall team, they could reflect and adjust to lead better.

[Laura Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Propósito, sentido y pasión: una pausa necesaria

Con un estilo claro y accesible, Morten Hansen nos invita a reflexionar sobre un aspecto fundamental de nuestras vidas: el trabajo. ¿Estamos realmente satisfechos con lo que hacemos? Muchas veces no, pero hay formas de solucionarlo más allá de renunciar.

Hansen nos guía a través de un viaje introspectivo, ayudándonos a identificar nuestras pasiones, valores y aquello que nos da un verdadero sentido de realización.

Lo que más me ha gustado es que el autor ofrece herramientas prácticas para aplicar estos conceptos a nuestra vida laboral. Ya sea que busquemos darle más propósito a nuestro trabajo actual o que estemos considerando un cambio de carrera. No miento ni exagero cuando digo que son muy prácticas.

Ojo, tampoco es el libro más revelador del mundo ni te ayudará a entender por qué estás en este plano universal.

Se lo recomiendo a cualquiera que sienta que aún no termina de conectar del todo con su propósito o motivación laboral.

[Carla RP · Rating 3 out of 5]

Esperaba otro tipo de contenido, se enfoco más en lo laboral, aunque se puede trasladar uno que otro aspecto a la vida acádemica. No completó mis expectativas, así también para ser un libro corto redunda mucho en uno que otro punto que resulta obvio. El mensaje, en general, es bueno, pero te deja una sensación de que te debe más contenido. De la serie inteligencia emocional, era al que le tenia más ganas de leer, tal vez eso afectó mi opinión sobre este.

[Jhon Fredy Guapacha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este es el primer libro que leo de Harvard Business Review y definitivamente cumple con lo que promete: es concreto, práctico y directo al punto. Explora el propósito personal desde una perspectiva sencilla, pero poderosa, y también ofrece herramientas claras para ayudar a los equipos de trabajo a encontrar su propósito colectivo. La lectura es fluida y fácil de seguir, lo que hace que sea muy disfrutable.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insights on how we all can find our meaning in our work and lives. This book does not read like a self help manual but it does provide steps on how we can regain our passion for our work. Worth the time investment to read and put into action.

[Rajiv Vohra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good collections of HBR articles on Purpose and Team Motivation. I liked the articles
5 Questions to Help Your Employees Find Their Inner Purpose
You Don’t Find Your Purpose — You Build It
Finding Meaning at Work, Even When Your Job Is Dull
The Power of Small Wins

[Emily Fryer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely would recommend discussing this one with a friend (there are prompts/ questions). I really liked the beginning but ending got a bit intense. Half the book was about how to inspire your employees / people under you so not the best book for people early in their career!

[leidy Quintero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Consejos practicos para encontrar el propósito en el trabajo de cada uno como de nuestros equipos de trabajo.
Lo recomiendo para obtener aprendizajes tanto para aplicar en nuestras propias acciones como para potenciar las de las demás.

[WR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was inspired to read this because of a comment someone made to me: You make meaning of what you do…it is not given to you.
Some of the articles were better than others but overall, the collection was a good way to start the new reading year, ahead of the new work year!

[Carlos Julian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una buena introducción al propósito.

Con ejemplos claros se ilustra el concepto del propósito de vida atado al propósito laboral. Una buena guía introductoria al tema.

[Lauryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

brief, but thought-provoking.

[Balkan Şencan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Serinin en kötü kitabı olabilir; vasat, yeni bir şey söylemiyor, söyledikleri de öyle aman aman şeyler değil; pas geçebilirsiniz.

[Martín Vizcaíno · Rating 5 out of 5]

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