I recently read the Wall Street Journal article, Doing God’s Work—At the Office, with interest for two reasons that transcend the excellent content of the piece.
First, this article is another sign that business is finally waking up to the tremendous motivational power of what Dan Pink calls our innate longing for “transcendent purpose.” While this article speaks specifically to a Christian orientation, my own work strives to offer a working definition that is not tied to any specific faith or creed.
I was also very pleased to see that my friend, David Miller, the director of Princeton’s Faith and Work Initiative got some well deserved press. A former finance executive, Dr. Miller’s efforts to make a difference are indeed making one.
Recently, David hosted me at the Greenwich Leadership Forum in Greenwich CT where each week dozens of America’s top corporate executives gather to reflect on how the business of business can be made more meaningful. Check us out as Dr. Miller and I talk about how to make the sixty hours you spend each week at work far more satisfying.
What do I do?
Start by listening to your coworkers or customers to find out what drives/motivates them and discover common interests.
Don’t figure it out, find out:
- Make your message authentic. Read Turak’s advice on maintaining spirituality in business.
- Create an overarching mission. Read how the ideas that pull people together lead monks (and you) to success in business.
- Commit to something bigger than our day to day selfish desires.
- Look for and learn from companies utilizing this model to attract customers and employess, such as the Pepsi Refresh project or the Marine Corps.
