Purpose at work matters, and most executives agree, according to research conducted by Harvard Business Review Analytic Services. In the study, 89% of leaders surveyed said, “A strong sense of collective purpose drives employee satisfaction.” Yet only a minority (46%) stated their organization currently runs in a purpose-driven way. When companies have a clear mission, it “can lead to high levels of engagement, high levels of creativity, and the willingness to partner across functional and product boundaries within a company,” said Rebecca Henderson, the John and Natty McArthur University Professor at Harvard Business School.
The events of the last few years have prompted many people to reevaluate their values and priorities. In a McKinsey survey, nearly two-thirds of U.S.-based employees said the pandemic caused them to reflect on their life’s purpose. As a result, individuals question whether they are in the right jobs or, in some cases, careers. In addition to compensation, employees seek purpose and meaning at work. According to University of Pennsylvania professor Amy Wrzesniewski, “People who consider their work to be a calling …tend to be more satisfied than those who think of their work as “just” a job.” Having a purpose also helps individuals overcome setbacks, which can be a massive benefit in the workplace.