E-couragement: Meaning

"Given the amount of time we spend working, failure to find meaningful, significant work is not just a minor misstep in living out God's plan; it is a deeper kind of failure that can make each day feel like living death." Dan Miller My first career was in the health and wellness industry as co-owner of several family fitness centers. I spent 15-years working beside an amazing team and serving our fabulous members. Well—almost all of our members were fabulous. I’ll never forget the day “He” entered one of our facilities…

Fortunately for me, he was greeted by Dawn. Dawn was one of our top sales people. She was gifted with a genuine concern and care for others. Coupled with her sales acumen, she was a formidable force for our organization. The best way I could describe the potential member that day was old and grumpy. I did not have the patience to deal with Mr. Grumpy. Dawn did—and she helped sell another membership.

Mr. Grumpy had a number of physical challenges and chronic diseases. Because of this, his son accompanied him to each exercise session. Dawn kept a close watch over Mr. Grumpy, making sure that his workouts went smoothly and all his needs were met. She even had our fitness department purchase a wheelchair that was kept at our entrance door. When Mr. Grumpy’s son drove up, she’d ensure that one of our staff met them at the front door, checked them in, and escorted them to the men’s locker room.

Mr. Grumpy was making progress and even gained enough energy to schedule an important surgery. A short time later, Mr. Grumpy’s son appeared at our front desk and asked for Dawn. He was carrying a potted flower in full bloom. Overhearing his request, I offered to go locate Dawn in her office.

Because Dawn was young, full of energy, and attractive, it was not unusual for potential suitors to track her down at our facility. When I approached Dawn and described the situation she was visibly frustrated. She didn’t have the time to politely shoot down another love interest. Since there was no way out, she took a deep breath and, smile intact, headed toward the reception desk.

Here’s what Mr. Grumpy’s son said, “Hi Dawn. This is for you. My dad didn’t make it through surgery. I wanted you to know what an impact you had on his quality of life these past several months. He was happier than he had been in a long time. You really made a difference for him. Thanks for all you’ve done.”

In this powerful moment, the real meaning of Dawn’s work became crystal clear. She wasn’t in sales. She wasn’t even in the health and wellness business. She was impacting the quality of people’s lives. She was making a difference. She never looked at her work the same—it was meaningful and significant—and she was inspired.

Engaging leaders find meaning in their work. They understand that what they do is bigger than their industry, product, or service. You won’t find meaning in a Profit and Loss Statement or a cost cutting project. Engaging leaders help followers discover the meaning in their work. By doing this they create inspired cultures where people take ownership and are committed to results. Meaningful and significant work—now there’s an idea.

Leave your comments: In what ways have you found meaning in your work? How have you helped those you lead find meaning in their work?