CR101 : Doing Work That Matters

How do your values, beliefs, or goals shape the type of work you want to do?

This is a question I explore with clients as they navigate their career paths. For some, the concepts Meaningful Work, Right Livelihood, or Doing What You Love factor strongly into that joint exploration. These ideas relate to making career decisions based on personal values, and they can have religious and spiritual dimensions.

I personally believe in doing work that matters, but I appreciate that work is seen as a financial means to a lifestyle end for others. 

Also, even if you and I both want to do work that matters, we have different worldviews, belief systems, experiences and values. So, our career goals will also vary.

Potential Benefits

If it is important to you to pursue work that matters when making career shifts, benefits can include greater:

• Alignment of your future work with your value system

• Motivation and perseverance to overcome obstacles

• Application of creative problem-solving

• Contributions that positively impact chosen groups of people (e.g. clients)

• Long-term career fulfilment, work engagement, and job satisfaction

To explore this concept further, I recommend the following resources:

Mindfulness and Meaningful Work, which offers perspectives on integrating mindfulness into purposeful career decisions [Editor, Claude Whitmeyer]

The Power of Purpose, which provides valuable insights into discovering your life’s calling and aligning it with your career choices [Author, Richard Leider]

Summary 

Ultimately, whether you prioritise personal values when making career choices is a deeply personal decision.

My role as an Executive Career Coach is to support clients in clarifying their own goals and making informed decisions that resonate with their unique situations. 

If you’re ready to explore what matters most in your career, let’s have a conversation!