Imagine starting your day feeling truly excited about the work ahead, knowing that the work aligns with your values, purpose, and passions. Sounds like a dream, right? It differs from the Gallup 2023 State of the Global Workplace report, which showed that 44% of employees experienced significant stress in their previous day at work, maintaining a record high level. Nearly 20% of employees in the US and Canada experience daily anger. If that isn’t enough, Gallup notes that nearly 60% of employees are quiet quitting, disengaged and going through the motions, while 18% are loud quitting, where they are actively disengaged and unhappy. Leaders have had some of the fastest growth in these categories.
So what’s going wrong? Why aren’t we thriving at work?
This struggle to find meaning and fulfillment has brought
the concept of ikigai back into focus. Ikigai
combines two Japanese words: “iki” (life) and “gai” (worth or value). Together,
they represent "a reason for being." It’s more than just a job or
career—it’s about finding that sweet spot where your passion, mission,
profession, and vocation meet.
Ikigai is frequently shown as a Venn diagram with four circles: what you love (passion); what you're good at (vocation); what the world needs (mission); and what you're paid for (profession). Where these circles intersect -- that's your ikigai, your purpose, your reason to get up in the morning with a sense of fulfillment.
I AM MALALA
I recently read, I Am Malala, the story of Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel Prize laureate. Malala’s father was a teacher and ran a school in a local Pakistani town. Malala excelled academically and valued learning. In 2007, the Taliban imposed strict regulations banning girls from attending school. Although just 11 years old at the time, Malala became an anonymous blogger and started speaking out against the Taliban regime and rules. In 2012, while she was on a school bus, Malala was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman because of her activism. Yet, she survived. The attack sparked a global outcry. And, at the age of 17, Malala was awarded a Nobel Peace prize.
As a result of her experiences, she became an advocate for girls’ education worldwide. Malala's ikigai drives her to create positive change in the world, providing education and hope to countless young girls. She uses her powerful voice to inspire and make a difference for others.
IKIGAI AND LEADERSHIP
Now, let’s talk about you as a leader. Ikigai isn’t just a personal journey; it can transform your approach to leadership and help your team thrive too.
Enhancing Employee Engagement
- When you help your team members discover their ikigai and align it with their roles, good things happen. Job satisfaction and engagement grow as do motivation, commitment, and productivity.
Building a Purpose-Driven Culture
- When you embody and promote ikigai as a leader, you foster a culture where purpose and personal fulfillment are valued. A cohesive team, all connected to a larger mission, is a powerful force.
Supporting Personal and Professional Growth
- By understanding ikigai, you can mentor your team to find their passions and strengths, guiding them to contribute in ways that make their careers not just successful but also more satisfying.
Improving Employee Retention
- When employees see how their work aligns with their ikigai, they’re less likely to leave when their work that truly matters to them?
Encouraging Innovation and Creativity
- Passionate employees are creative employees. When your team believes in what they’re doing, they’ll push boundaries, think outside the box, and drive innovation.
Balancing Work and Well-being
- Ikigai isn’t just about work—it’s about balance. By recognizing the importance of personal well-being, you can create a work environment that respects your team’s time and health, with better life-work balance.
Aligning Organizational Goals with Individual Purpose
· When you align your organization’s objectives with your employees' personal goals, they see how their work contributes to something bigger. This shared purpose drives motivation and success.
Understanding how purpose, passion, strengths, and the organizational mission connect allows you to support your team in ways that lead to thriving, both personally and professionally. While your path may not be as dramatic as Malala’s, each of us has special gifts and talents to share with the world — when you and your team share your gifts and talents in meaningful ways, ikigai can happen.