Going From Satisfied To Fulfilled At Work

By Ryan McCarty

As an author, podcast host, and keynote speaker on workplace culture, I have now spent the last ten years of my career studying what makes employees fulfilled in their jobs.

I've found that employee fulfillment matters more than employee satisfaction. I've found that employee fulfillment is the "new" employee engagement.

This is because fulfilling work isn't just about getting paid or having reasonable benefits — it's about having an impact and positively contributing to the world in a meaningful way. For example, a nurse providing direct care to a patient in need is likely to find more meaningful work than an accountant crunching numbers in the back office. But that doesn't mean accountants can never find their work fulfilling!

When you have fulfilling work, everything else falls into place:

You're happier, less stressed, and more productive. You take fewer sick days and have better relationships with co-workers, customers, and your community.

Employees can be satisfied, but that doesn't mean they are fulfilled in their work. To have fulfilling work, one must see their impact and feel that their contributions are meaningful and helpful.

We are fulfilled when we bring our soul to work by doing the following three things:

• Give ourselves and others permission to care

Give ourselves and others permission to care. When we are passionate about what we do, it's easy to find meaning in our work and feel it matters. This is especially true when we care about our customers, coworkers, and the community. We can create opportunities for ourselves and the team to connect their everyday work with ways they are caring for those around them.

• Make sure what you do is driven by a greater why or purpose

This is where we connect with our soul and bring it into the workplace by focusing on what matters most to us beyond just making a living. In other words, ask yourself, why am I here? What's important about this job? Why does my employer exist? What do my customers, coworkers, and community really need from me? Sometimes finding fulfillment starts with asking the right questions that lead to new discoveries.

• Craft your passion into your work

Don't just show up, show up with passion that leads to a more fulfilling work experience for you, your team, and your business. What's more, having an overarching passion for everything you do helps keep you motivated when things get tough or challenging (and they will).

Create or integrate what you love into your tasks in a way that engages you. Whatever you enjoy doing, whether you like singing, dancing, telling jokes, studying philosophy, playing a sport, or whatever, find a way to incorporate it into your work that brings you joy!

Contact me to learn more about my services to live on purpose and to work with passion!