How to find purpose in your work – the core driver of self-motivation

It’s often said that one-third of our lives are dedicated to work. That means we’ll spend nearly 10,000 hours working over our lifetime, which is all the more reason why we should find something that has purpose. For many of us, we’re more self-motivated when the work we’re doing has a genuine impact.

But it’s about understanding what drives you. One way to think about motivation is with Edward Deci and Richard Ryan's self-determination theory. It proposes that people have an intrinsic need for autonomy, competence and relatedness, and they become more self-determined when these have been fulfilled. Purpose, by and large, lies at the heart of this theory. The driving force that pushes us forward, which differs for everyone, is purpose.

Play to your strengths

When people find meaning in their work, they’re generally more satisfied and self-motivated. According to research by McKinsey, employees who view their work as meaningful find their performance improves by 33 per cent. Meaningful work often involves tasks that feel significant or allow you to become so engaged that you enter a “flow state”. The key is to tap into our natural abilities. When we play to our strengths, we naturally become more confident, engaged, and our self-motivation grows.

Better yet, you are more likely to perform better when you’re doing something that makes the most of your talents. So, pay attention to what energises you and the activities you most enjoy doing. The benefits of playing to your strengths extend beyond self-motivation. It creates personal satisfaction and greater fulfilment.

Understand your company culture

The company culture matters. Although it may not be discussed every day, culture affects every area of an organisation and influences how work gets done. Culture is the set of beliefs and attitudes in the workplace, and it’s the bedrock of any organisation. 

How personally connected do you feel to the company’s mission and values? When you’re in tune with your environment, you’ll likely feel more purposeful and a sense of belonging, both of which contribute to your self-motivation.

Get clear on your goals

Another reason for a lack of self-motivation is feeling stagnant. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean you need to change roles. Instead, start clarifying what you want to learn next and adopt a growth mindset. This is especially important in the changing world of work, where there’s a need to continuously add value to your company in new and interesting ways.

Sometimes there’s a disconnect, and closing the gap can boost self-motivation. However, goal setting is one approach to staying motivated because it gives focus, direction and accountability. This, in turn, can give you a greater sense of purpose in your working life.

Develop new skills

Ongoing skill development and continuous learning is vital for career growth. As you develop a new skill, you’ll gain more confidence and open up new opportunities, which in turn, can give you a greater sense of purpose and self-motivation. New skills can help you push forward and can be a great way to improve how you feel about your career.

To build new skills, start by taking online courses, skills training or gaining new knowledge by speaking with other team members. All of this can aid in your self-motivation because it’ll help you build momentum at work, gaining a new sense of purpose all over again.

Build positive relationships

If you have solid relationships with your team, you’ll look forward to going to work. That’s the power of building positive and professional relationships.

Some ways to achieve this are through active listening, following through on commitments, and asking for help. It’s easy to get stuck in the daily grind and overlook connections. But positive relationships contribute to your sense of purpose and can improve overall job satisfaction.  

Final thought: meaning and purpose drive performance

In today’s work environment, those with purpose are more engaged in their work. It’s at the core of every action we take whilst working and throughout our careers as a whole. The more purpose we feel we have, the more connected we feel to the work itself and the organisation’s mission.

When you know your “why”, collaboration becomes seamless, goals are met and self-motivation soars. It’s the very fuel that drives performance.

The more you follow your purpose and take actions that align with your core values, the more self-motivated you’ll be. But let’s not forget that companies themselves should embed purpose in their cultures to unlock their employees’ potential and drive long-term success.

At Workstyle Revolution, we help organisations create more personalised ways of working. We’re helping companies and individuals reach their goals, become more autonomous and improve job satisfaction.

Would you like to learn more about self-motivation and building a purpose-driven culture, where teams have more freedom and autonomy? Explore how self-management combines with other traits to revolutionise personal productivity in our unique model. Get in touch with us at lizzie@workstyle.org.uk.

This blog was written by one of our team volunteers, Liam Springate-Jones, on behalf of the Workstyle Revolution.