The concept of work is central to the human experience. It is what gives meaning to our lives and enables us to meet our societal needs. It is the means by which we achieve our goals and dreams. And yet, the majority of people don’t enjoy their jobs or feel that they are doing meaningful work. So what is it that distinguishes a good job from one that is not? And how can organizations cultivate a culture that enables workers to pursue their passion and find fulfillment in the workplace?
Work is the transfer of energy from one system to another. It can be measured as force times displacement or, more simply, the amount of change in an object’s position caused by a given force. This is why it is important to consider the direction of the force and displacement: if the displacement is along a line perpendicular to the force, the work done is zero. The SI unit for work is the joule (J), named after English physicist James Prescott Joule. However, units such as the newton-metre, erg and foot-poundal are often used.
There are many factors that influence how we feel about our jobs, but a key is whether or not we are doing what we are most passionate about and have the freedom to express ourselves in the work we do. It also has to be a good fit for our strengths, skills and interests. A good job should also provide financial security and a sense of meaning in our life. Research has shown that people are more likely to feel happy at work if they have these things.
A good job should also be supportive of individuals’ professional growth, provide opportunities for learning and development and be rewarding in terms of the rewards it offers. This is why it is so critical that organizations focus on redefining work and providing more opportunities for employees to do the kinds of things they are most passionate about and where their unique contributions can make a real difference.
Ultimately, the best jobs are those that enable people to do what they love, where they can advance professionally and where they are seen for being their best selves. But it is important to remember that there are many different combinations of the above factors, and not every person will be happy in the same type of job. Those who do love their jobs, though, are not living in some P.T. Barnum-like freak show—they are actually in the majority! I know this because, in my own organization, there are plenty of people who do like their jobs. They are just not always on display. So, if you are one of those rare people who truly does like your job, thank you! You should be proud of yourself, because it is not easy to do. And if you are not one of these people, don’t worry—it is never too late to find what makes your job worth doing.
