How to remain passionate at work?

At this very moment I am sitting in a train, and I am on my way to a customer. Tomorrow we will be working on a new product for his firm. I have just finished reading through various documents to prepare myself for tomorrow, and I have already started creating a first concept. Creating concepts always gives me a boost of energy. For a big part this comes from being able to employ one of my core-skills. That gives lots of energy! But there is another element that plays a big part here: I am doing something really meaningful (at least in my personal perception). That perception also really gives a lot of energy. I am trying to serve my customers the best I can. Which enables them to serve their customers better and better. Which contributes to the quality of life for everyone involved.

If your work presents you with opportunities to make a meaningful contribution to your clients, patients, or – more abstract – a part of the society, than your work becomes even more a source of energy for you. If so, your personal resilience grows. So, that means that passion for your work, and enthusiasm indeed also increase your resilience.

Passion for your work, and enthusiasm show, for some degree, the sense of purpose that you experience at work. But they are rather difficult to put into lists and graphs. To be able to describe your personal passion and enthusiasm for your work we will discuss 3 questions. In doing so we will also try to establish a connection between ‘sense of purpose’ and your ‘job’. For each of the questions I already give you some examples, just to help you start off with brainstorming:

1. How do I contribute in a meaningful way, and to whom?

• I want to serve our clients in a way that they feel inspired. In a way that they will go on with their day wearing a smile on their face.
• I want to really listen to our patients, to show empathy, to make sure that they feel understood and safe.
• I want to be a reliable source of top-information for my colleagues so that they can do their job with more success and enthusiasm.
• I want to create a motivating, challenging and transparent place for my employees to make sure that they are able to serve our customers in the best possible way.

2. What long-term goal do I want to realize?

• I want to optimize our products yearly to make sure that our products keep on connecting really well with the constantly changing needs of our clients.
• I want to keep on growing in my professionalism to be able to continue delivering masterpieces.
• I want to organise work and the company as efficient as I can, to make less costs, better results, to ensure that the company remains financially healthy. And, even more important, to ensure a healthy future for everybody that is part of this company.
• I want to evaluate our strategic goals better to stay focussed and flexible as a team, to be a growth factor in the organisation, and to ensure its quality and impact.

3. What do I want to contribute to my surroundings, or to the society as a whole?

• I want to contribute to the employment of young professionals between 18 and 25, so they can make a healthy start in their professional life.
• I want to be someone who builds bridges between the various generations in our sports club to make sure that everybody feels respected and welcome.
• I want to contribute to the integration of people with a handicap in our company.
• I want to contribute to developing better and better health care facilities.

Now it is your turn. Take your time, and describe 3 core-sentences that symbolize your passion and enthusiasm for your work, for each of the questions. Following, think of a little symbol, to symbolize each sentence. Lastly, choose 5 of these core-sentences that describe your passion and enthusiasm best, put them in the last schedule, and think of how they connect with your current work.

How do I contribute in a meaningful way, and to whom?
Core-sentences	Symbol
1
2
3

What long-term goal do I want to realize?
Core-sentences	Symbol
1
2
3

What do I want to contribute to my surroundings, or to the society as a whole?
Core-sentences	Symbol
1
2
3

My top-5 core-sentences	Symbol	How can I implement this into my work?	Support
E.g. I want my team to grow in customer service		Once a week I will invite my team for a short brainstorming/evaluation session	Anna
1
2
3
4
5

After you have put these core-sentences together you – hopefully – have a somewhat clearer idea about what makes you enthusiastic about your work. So, lets continue with ‘jobcrafting’! Perhaps you can, for instance, talk with your manager about ways to install some of these ‘meaningful activities’ into your current work. It will increase your enthusiasm for your work, and that is a great gain for your manager, your company, your clients, your colleagues, and – of course – yourself!

Good luck, and have fun with it all!

Paul Donders.