Purpose and Meaning in the Workplace

by Bryan J. Dik, Zinta S. Byrne, Michael F. Steger

Overview

Work is one of the fundamental experiences of human life. Yet very few of us are lucky enough to find truly fulfilling jobs. In recent decades, as businesses have come to understand the crucial link between happiness and productivity, researchers have focused increasingly on factors such as the nature of the work itself, how well it is suited to the worker, and the ways in which employees can derive meaning and purpose from their work. In this groundbreaking book, editors Bryan Dik, Zinta Byrne, and Michael Steger have brought together experts in counseling and vocational psychology, industrial and organizational psychology, and the fields of executive coaching and management to investigate how meaningful work can be fostered and sustained throughout a wide range of work environments. Theoretically-grounded yet filled with practical strategies for the workplace, this book will be an important resource for academics, executive consultants, career counselors, human resource professionals, and organizational leaders alike.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781433813146
Publisher:	American Psychological Association
Publication date:	05/31/2013
Pages:	248
Product dimensions:	7.20(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.70(d)

Table of Contents

Contributors ix

Foreword xi

Introduction 3

I Cultivating a Meaningful Career 15

Chapter 1 Career Construction; Heeding the Call of the Heart Paul J. Hartung Brian J. Taber 17

Chapter 2 A Person-Environment Fit Approach to Cultivating Meaning Jo-Ida C. Hansen 37

Chapter 3 Meaningful Work and the Protean Career Douglas T. Hall Elana Feldman Najung Kim 57

II Meaning Making on the Job 79

Chapter 4 Job Crafting and Meaningful Work Justin M. Berg Jane E. Dutton Amy Wrzesniewski 81

Chapter 5 Employee Engagement and Meaningful Work William A. Kahn Steven Fellows 105

Chapter 6 Profane or Profound? Finding Meaning in Dirty Work Blake K. Ashforth Glen E. Kreiner 127

Chapter 7 Promoting Meaning and Purpose at Work: A Social-Cognitive Perspective Robert W. Lent 151

III Leading a Meaningful Organization 171

Chapter 8 Doing Well, Doing Good, and Doing With: Organizational Practices for Effectively Cultivating Meaningful Work Michael G. Pratt Camille Pradies Doughs A. Lepisto 173

Chapter 9 Transformational Leadership and Meaningful Work Fred O. Walumbwa Amanda L. Christensen Michael K. Muchiri 197

Chapter 10 Connecting the Dots: Coaching Leaders to Turn Values Into Meaningful Work Dianne R. Stober Stefanie Putter Lauren Garrison 217

Index 235

About the Editors 247