- Oxford Library of Psychology
- [UNTITLED]
- Oxford Library of Psychology
- About the Editors
- Contributors
- Foreword: The Abundant Organization
- Preface
- Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology and Work
- Finding the Positive in the World of Work
- The Changing World of Work
- Generation Me and the Changing World of Work
- What is Authentic Leadership Development?
- Enablers of a Positive Strategy: Positively Deviant Leadership
- Change and Its Leadership: The Role of Positive Emotions
- Working Positively Toward Transformative Cooperation
- Strengths: Your Leading Edge
- Toward a Positive Psychology for Leaders
- Employee Engagement and the Psychology of Joining, Staying in, and Leaving Organizations
- Work as Meaning: Individual and Organizational Benefits of Engaging in Meaningful Work
- More than Meets the Eye: The Role of Employee Well-Being in Organizational Research
- Positive Engagement: From Employee Engagement to Workplace Happiness
- Using Coaching and Positive Psychology to Promote a Flourishing Workforce: A Model of Goal-Striving and Mental Health
- Mindfulness at Work: Paying Attention to Enhance Well-Being and Performance
- Work-Life Balance: The Roles of Work-Family Conflict and Work-Family Facilitation
- Strengths Development in the Workplace
- Strengths of Character and Work
- Dream Teams: A Positive Psychology of Team Working
- Positive Organizational Scholarship Leaps into the World of Work
- Look Before You Leap or Dive Right In? The Use of Moral Courage in Response to Workplace Bullying
- An Integrated Model of Psychological Capital in the Workplace
- Building the Positive Workplace: A Preliminary Report from the Field
- Good for What? The Young Worker in a Global Age
- What's Wrong with Being Positive?
- Building Positive Organizations
- Index
Abstract and Keywords
We review the literature on work as meaning and propose a theoretical model of factors that support engagement in meaningful work. We argue that meaningful work arises when people have a clear sense of self, an accurate understanding of the nature and expectations of their work environment, and understand how to transact with their organizations to accomplish their work objectives. We argue that this comprehension of the self in work provides the foundation for people to develop a sense of purpose and mission about their work that both motivates their engagement and performance and helps them transcend their own immediate interests to achieve concern for their contributions to their organization and the greater good. We describe potential and documented benefits of meaningful work to individuals and organizations and provide some suggestions for practical applications and future research.
Keywords: meaningful work, calling, work purpose, mission, leadership
Michael F. Steger, Department of Psychology, Colorado State University
Bryan J. Dik, Department of Psychology, Colorado State University.
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- Oxford Library of Psychology
- [UNTITLED]
- Oxford Library of Psychology
- About the Editors
- Contributors
- Foreword: The Abundant Organization
- Preface
- Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology and Work
- Finding the Positive in the World of Work
- The Changing World of Work
- Generation Me and the Changing World of Work
- What is Authentic Leadership Development?
- Enablers of a Positive Strategy: Positively Deviant Leadership
- Change and Its Leadership: The Role of Positive Emotions
- Working Positively Toward Transformative Cooperation
- Strengths: Your Leading Edge
- Toward a Positive Psychology for Leaders
- Employee Engagement and the Psychology of Joining, Staying in, and Leaving Organizations
- Work as Meaning: Individual and Organizational Benefits of Engaging in Meaningful Work
- More than Meets the Eye: The Role of Employee Well-Being in Organizational Research
- Positive Engagement: From Employee Engagement to Workplace Happiness
- Using Coaching and Positive Psychology to Promote a Flourishing Workforce: A Model of Goal-Striving and Mental Health
- Mindfulness at Work: Paying Attention to Enhance Well-Being and Performance
- Work-Life Balance: The Roles of Work-Family Conflict and Work-Family Facilitation
- Strengths Development in the Workplace
- Strengths of Character and Work
- Dream Teams: A Positive Psychology of Team Working
- Positive Organizational Scholarship Leaps into the World of Work
- Look Before You Leap or Dive Right In? The Use of Moral Courage in Response to Workplace Bullying
- An Integrated Model of Psychological Capital in the Workplace
- Building the Positive Workplace: A Preliminary Report from the Field
- Good for What? The Young Worker in a Global Age
- What's Wrong with Being Positive?
- Building Positive Organizations
- Index
