In Part 1 of this two-part conversation on Meaningful Work Matters, Dr. Carrie Oelberger explores the complexities and potential dark sides of deeply meaningful work, particularly in mission-driven organizations. She introduces groundbreaking research on how different individuals experience meaning at work and challenges common assumptions about value alignment in nonprofit and social impact sectors.
Dr. Oelberger's insights reveal how meaningful work can both enhance and complicate our lives, especially regarding work-life boundaries and relationships.
Key Topics Explored:
Values alignment and individual work preferences
The relationship between meaningful work and job security
Boundary inhibition in highly meaningful work
Impact of meaningful work on personal relationships
Intersectional challenges in mission-driven work
Leadership considerations for managing meaningful work
Quote from the Episode:
"People who find their work deeply meaningful... that boundary around their work time is inhibited, not by their employers actually, but by themselves. They are really devoting themselves - physically, emotionally, mentally - to their workplaces, because they find so much meaning in it." - Dr. Carrie Oelberger
Key Takeaways:
One size fits none when it comes to meaningful work - individual preferences and values vary significantly
Job security matters universally, regardless of stated preferences
The impact of meaningful work on personal life varies significantly across different identities and social positions
Meaningful work can turn into armour we wear that weighs heavily on personal relationships.
Organizations need to actively manage the potential dark sides of meaningful work
Dr. Carrie Oelberger is an Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs and a McKnight Land Grant Professor. Her research on meaningful work is deeply informed by her experience leading a grassroots NGO in Tanzania, where she developed the country's first rural community education resource center. Her work examines how organizations can balance meaningful work with sustainable workforce management, particularly in mission-driven contexts.
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