We all have a fundamental need to belong. One way to achieve this is to connect work with outcomes. When you know your work has a meaningful, positive impact on others, you are happier and more productive than those who don’t make a connection. Understanding the impact of your work encourages you to keep moving forward.

The good news is that each of us, in our day-to-day jobs, have almost innumerable opportunities to impact others. Try thinking of your work as service and help your colleagues and employees do the same. This change in mindset can be transformational.

Here are five groups to consider serving each day:

  1. Clients or customers – At the core of every organization is a customer. If it doesn’t serve that customer well, it will fail.
  2. Colleagues – Positive relationships at work are absolutely essential to engagement. Instead of self-centeredness or competition lean toward encouragement and support.
  3. Community – Organizations that implement community service programs experience a number of benefits, including better recruitment, development, engagement, and retention.
  4. Partners and vendors – When we act to serve our providers, we will benefit from better relationships with them and differentiated reputations in the marketplace.
  5. People we love – Many of us work to support a family (spouses, kids, parents, siblings, or friends) and to provide opportunities for them. Even on the hard days, we can take comfort in the fact that our work is an act of service to those we love.

Just being aware of the impact your job has on others will go a long way. Individuals who remember these daily opportunities for service will be happier and more fulfilled.

 

References:
Harvard Business Review (2022, August 25) John Coleman: Feeling Demotivated? Consider How Your Job Helps Others
Bloom Growth (2020, October 29) Content Team: 5 Ways to Help Employees See Their Impact