Tamara Myles, an expert in meaningful work and positive psychology, dives deep into how to make work truly matter. She reveals findings from her groundbreaking study on how leaders can foster meaning in the workplace through community, contribution, and challenge. Discussing the impacts of the pandemic, she addresses rising employee apathy and the challenges of remote work. Tamara also emphasizes the need for supportive environments that can reignite passion and connection while navigating the complexities of merit and diversity in today's organizations.
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insights INSIGHT
Three Core Drivers of Meaningful Work
Meaningful work is driven by community, contribution, and challenge, not just purpose.
Every job can be meaningful by fostering positive relationships, impact, and personal growth.
insights INSIGHT
Meaning in Work is a Fundamental Need
Meaning is fundamental to human well-being and work time should feel meaningful.
The pandemic accelerated reflection on work's meaning, driving demand for purposeful jobs.
insights INSIGHT
Pandemic Shifts Reveal Work Meaning Tensions
The swift pandemic-driven work changes exposed tensions in work meaning and culture.
Returning to office can be easier than reshaping intentional community and belonging in hybrid models.
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StrengthsFinder 2.0 is a bestselling business book that helps individuals, teams, managers, and leaders understand and apply their strengths. The book, based on Gallup research, includes hundreds of strategies for using your natural talents and an access code to take the CliftonStrengths assessment. This assessment provides personalized reports, including your top five CliftonStrengths and a Signature Theme Report, to help you develop your strengths and achieve your goals.
Man's Search for Meaning
Viktor Frankl
The book is divided into two parts. The first part recounts Frankl's harrowing experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps, including Auschwitz, between 1942 and 1945. He describes the inhumane conditions and the psychological and emotional struggles of the prisoners. The second part introduces Frankl's theory of logotherapy, which posits that the primary human drive is the search for meaning, rather than pleasure. Frankl argues that meaning can be found through three main avenues: work (doing something significant), love (caring for another), and suffering (finding meaning in one's own suffering). The book emphasizes the importance of finding purpose and meaning in life, even in the most adverse conditions, as a key factor in survival and personal growth.
Meaningful Work
Tamara Myles
Wes Adams
Bullshit Jobs
A Theory
David Graeber
In 'Bullshit Jobs: A Theory', David Graeber argues that a significant portion of jobs in modern society are meaningless and contribute little to no value. He categorizes these jobs into five types: flunkies, goons, duct tapers, box tickers, and taskmasters. Graeber contends that these jobs are not only inefficient but also psychologically destructive, leading to chronic misery and social divisions. The book is based on his 2013 essay 'On the Phenomenon of Bullshit Jobs' and includes testimonials from workers who feel their jobs are pointless. Graeber suggests solutions such as unions and universal basic income to address the issue of meaningless work.
Spark
The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain
John J. Ratey
In 'Spark', John J. Ratey, M.D., explores the comprehensive connection between exercise and the brain, presenting research that proves exercise is a potent defense against conditions such as depression, ADD, addiction, aggression, menopause, and Alzheimer's. The book includes case studies, such as the revolutionary fitness program in Naperville, Illinois, which significantly improved science test scores among 19,000 students. Ratey explains how exercise physically remodels the brain for peak performance, reducing stress, lifting mood, fighting memory loss, and sharpening intellect. The book covers various chapters on stress, anxiety, depression, ADHD, addiction, hormonal changes, and aging, all highlighting the beneficial effects of exercise on mental and physical health.
Welcome to episode #980 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast.
Tamara Myles is one of the world’s leading experts on meaningful work, with a career that bridges research, leadership consulting, and positive psychology. She’s the author of The Secret To Peak Productivity, a sought-after speaker and advisor to companies like Microsoft and KPMG, and one of the first 600 people in the world to earn a master’s in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. In her new book, Meaningful Work - How To Ignite Passion And Performance In Every Employee (co-authored with Wes Adams), Tamara brings both scientific rigor and real-world empathy to one of the most pressing challenges of our time: how to make work feel like it matters. In this conversation, Tamara shares the results of her multi-year study - the first of its kind - on how leaders influence meaning in the workplace. She introduces the three core drivers of meaningful work: community, contribution, and challenge, and explains why they’re more relevant than ever in a world grappling with burnout, disconnection, and shifting values around work. We also talk about the lasting impact of the pandemic, the rise of employee apathy, and how social media has warped our collective expectations about fulfillment. Tamara, who teaches at both the University of Pennsylvania and Boston College, blends her academic insight with a deeply human perspective - reminding us that meaning is not just a nice-to-have, but a business imperative. Whether you're leading a team or trying to reconnect with your own sense of purpose, this episode offers a much-needed compass. Enjoy the conversation...
(00:00) - Introduction to Positive Psychology and Meaningful Work. (02:58) - The Importance of Meaning in Work. (05:57) - The Misconception of Meaningful Work. (09:03) - The Role of Leaders in Creating Meaning. (11:59) - The Impact of the Pandemic on Work Meaning. (14:58) - Transactional Work vs. Meaningful Work. (18:10) - The Dual Responsibility of Leaders and Employees. (21:04) - Hiring for Meaning in Organizations. (24:13) - Common Sense vs. Common Practice in Work Meaning. (26:59) - Expectations and Realities of Work Today. (31:46) - The Impact of Social Media on Expectations. (34:33) - Generational Perspectives on Meaningful Work. (37:47) - Work-Life Balance and Productivity. (39:08) - The Loneliness Epidemic Post-Covid. (43:39) - Creating Meaningful Work Environments. (46:58) - AI's Role in the Future of Work. (50:15) - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace. (52:28) - Overcoming Apathy in the Workplace.
Six Pixels of Separation Podcast 
