Work that really matters?
February 2008

A recent study in the UK by CHA Communications Consultancy has drawn attention to a subject that is at the core of TPC’s Future Shape of the Winner™ (FSW) - the motivation that people have towards their work.

Their study of over 1500 UK employees from across public, private and charity sectors points to the fact that over three quarters of those surveyed want to feel that the work they are doing is worthwhile. Their definition of what makes a job worthwhile is; that the work contributes to society; that it is a job they can do well; and that it is a job they can be proud of. Sadly, almost half of those surveyed are looking for a more worthwhile job than the one they now have.

Stefan Stern of the Financial Times , commenting on this report, contends that leaders are missing a massive opportunity to engage their people.

"The evidence points to leadership failure on a huge scale. Employees do not understand what is important or worthwhile about their work. They do not see why profitability matters. It is hardly surprising that research into employee engagement invariably throws up dismal findings. Employees don’t feel they are being offered anything that is worth engaging with."

Tom Peters Company's take on excellence has some strong synergies with the CHA findings. Engaging people in doing work that matters to them is key to the "people to talent" transformation at the core of our Future Shape of the Winner model. To pull this transformation off, leaders need a clear understanding of what motivates the people that they need to attract and engage at work. Generalised assumptions about people's motivation towards work will not hack it with today's diversified and mobile workforce! As a leader, seeing your people as volunteers rather than ‘paid help’ might help you to reshape your message and get it across with greater impact. Can you describe the intrinsic reward that people can gain from working wholeheartedly for your enterprise? Is the job you need them to do a job in which they can take pride?