SLIDE 1
HOW TO FIND PURPOSE IN WORK
Katharina Probst QCon Brazil May 2019
What would you do if you won the lottery tomorrow?
2
HOW TO FIND PURPOSE IN WORK Katharina Probst QCon Brazil May 2019 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
HOW TO FIND PURPOSE IN WORK Katharina Probst QCon Brazil May 2019 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
HOW TO FIND PURPOSE IN WORK Katharina Probst QCon Brazil May 2019 What would you do if you won the lottery tomorrow? 2 HELLO! I am Katharina Probst Im a Senior Engineering Manager at Google. You can find me at
SLIDE 2
SLIDE 3
HELLO!
I am Katharina Probst I’m a Senior Engineering Manager at Google. You can find me at www.linkedin.com/in/katharinaprobst
3
SLIDE 4
Motivation
What motivates people?
4
SLIDE 5
THE DEBATE ABOUT COMPENSATION
5
Is it all about money? Conversely, when people say that money does not motivate them, are they truthful?
SLIDE 6
“
“There are many examples to show that people will work more for a cause than for cash.”
Dan Ariely, Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions
6
SLIDE 7
LEGO STUDY - SETUP
7
Subjects assemble lego fi figurines, get paid based on how many they assemble. Two conditions ╺ Meaningful: fi figures were lined up in front of subject. ╺ Sisyphus: fi figures were immediately disassembled. Dan Ariely, Emir Kamenica, Dražen Preleca, Man’s search for meaning: The case of Legos
SLIDE 8
LEGO STUDY - RESULTS
8
Students in the “meaningful” group did much more work. What is the “meaning” here? Dan Ariely, Emir Kamenica, Dražen Preleca, Man’s search for meaning: The case of Legos
SLIDE 9
WHAT MOTIVATES?
9
Mastery Purpose Autonomy
Daniel Pink, Drive
SLIDE 10
Purpose
Connecting to something bigger.
10
SLIDE 11
PERSONAL MOTIVATION EXAMPLES
Making money Getting promoted Using a specifi fic programming language/technology
11
Are these fulfi filling long-term?
SLIDE 12
JOBS WITH MORE OBVIOUS PURPOSE
Doctors and nurses Teachers Medical researchers
12
SLIDE 13
JOBS WITH LESS OBVIOUS PURPOSE
Cafeteria workers Tour guides Musicians Programmers
13
SLIDE 14
JOB CRAFTING
Within the boundaries of one’s job, fi find ways to craft it to make it more meaningful and/or more satisfying to the employee. More autonomy can lead to more job crafting.
14
Justin M. Berg, Jane E. Dutton, Robert L. Kahn, Amy Wrzesniewski: What is Job Crafting and Why Does It Matter?
(THE POSITIVE KIND)
SLIDE 15
EXAMPLES OF JOB CRAFTING
Cafeteria worker going above and beyond to get me my favorite bread.
15
SLIDE 16
Programmer at Netfl flix contributing to code that helps tell important stories to the world.
16
EXAMPLES OF JOB CRAFTING
SLIDE 17
Manager who helps employee fi find a new role in the same company.
17
EXAMPLES OF JOB CRAFTING
SLIDE 18
Employee at kitchen supply store who points out mistakes by contractor to protect customer.
18
EXAMPLES OF JOB CRAFTING
SLIDE 19
What can leaders do?
Leaders can play an important role in helping employees find their purpose in work.
19
SLIDE 20
“
“It's as simple as this. When people don't unload their opinions and feel like they've been listened to, they won't really get on board.”
Patrick Lencioni, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable
20
SLIDE 21
“
“Leadership requires two things: a vision
- f the world that does not yet exist and
the ability to communicate it.”
Simon Sinek, Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
21
SLIDE 22
THE POWER OF STORIES
The best story tellers Paint a picture of the future Get people rallied around their idea(s) Stories have a way of getting people to connect to an idea and remember it
22
SLIDE 23
THE POWER OF REINFORCEMENT
Remind employees (and yourself) of the big picture. Remind employees (and yourself) of their role in the big picture.
23
SLIDE 24
“
“If you have to drive people that hard to do their job, then you’ve either got the wrong people, or you’ve got the right people doing the wrong job.”
John P. Strelecky, The Big Five for Life
24
SLIDE 25
TOURS OF DUTY
Limited-time assignment, e.g., foreign assignment for 2 years. Company benefi fits, employee benefi fits Reid Hofffman, The Alliance
25
SLIDE 26
TOURS OF DUTY GENERALIZED
Any project can be a tour of duty. Divide your career into tours of duty. Every tour of duty should be new in some way (e.g., more responsibility). How does each tour of duty fi fit with your personal purpose?
26
SLIDE 27
What can we all do?
27
SLIDE 28
THE ROLE OF MASTERY
Mastery requires ongoing work over a long time. High levels of mastery lead to Higher job satisfaction Higher recognition (which in turn can lead to higher satisfaction)
28
SLIDE 29
29
SENSE OF PURPOSE AS A LEARNED SKILL
Question your motivations. Remind yourself of the bigger picture. Don’t underestimate your impact on others. Keep working on it.
SLIDE 30
30
SENSE OF PURPOSE AS A CAREER BOOSTER?
People who focus on getting promoted don’t. People with a sense of purpose do.
SLIDE 31
Conclusion
31
SLIDE 32
KEY TAKE-AWAYS
1. Purpose is essential piece to motivation at work. 2. Finding purpose can come in many ways: Job crafting. 3. Leaders play an important role. 4. Finding purpose takes ongoing work, but can be a career booster.
32
SLIDE 33
What would you do if you won the lottery tomorrow?
33
SLIDE 34
QUESTIONS
34