Cranking Up the Satisfaction: Unlocking Personal Fulfillment in Your Job
Boosting Self-Actualization at the Workplace: Strategies and Tips
Want to stay happy at work in the long haul? You need more than a paycheck — you need a sense of purpose, a feeling of accomplishment, and a sense of self-realization. Organizational psychologist Selma Fehrmann breaks it down for us.
If you've been feeling like your job lacks a certain something, it's probably because there's no sense of meaning or self-realization. Fehrmann, who's also an author and consultant, defines self-realization as using your talents, interests, and values while on the job. This leads to those coveted flow states, increased effectiveness, and overall job satisfaction.
Tuning in to Yourself: Amping Up the Self- leadership Skills
Good news for those longing for more meaning at work — self-leadership is the key to unlocking it. This means taking charge of your feelings, thoughts, and actions. To tap into your purpose, Fehrmann recommends some handy exercises:
- The Ikigai model: This Japanese concept asks you to consider four questions: What do you love? What are you good at? What does the world need? What do you get paid for? The sweet spot where these questions intersect defines your Ikigai.
- Make it a habit: Reflect on whom your work is helping or what you're contributing to the common goal. These tiny adjustments can help you align your work with your strengths.
- Shout-out to the good stuff: At the end of each week, jot down three moments when your work felt truly meaningful to you.
Expanding Your Horizons: Self-realization in Narrow Roles
You might think self-realization is only possible in creative, wide-scoped roles. Fehrmann begs to differ. Even in jobs with limited scope, you can still find opportunities to use your strengths, whether in team projects or through new responsibilities.
Venturing Beyond the Cube: Finding Meaning Off the Clock
Let's face it — sometimes work just isn't going to cut it when it comes to self-realization. In that case, look elsewhere for fulfillment. Passions like creative hobbies, social engagement, or interpersonal connections can help you feel a sense of self-efficacy. Fehrmann also suggests a "meaning challenge," where you do something daily that benefits others or inspires them.
Surveys show that many of us struggle with motivation at work. One study by the market research institute Appinio on behalf of the software company Awork among 1,000 office workers in April 2025 found that 59% of respondents perform their tasks adequately but don't push their limits, while 7% admit to only doing the bare minimum.
Unlocking Your Inner drive: Understanding the Ikigai Model
- Passion: Activities you love and excel at.
- Mission: What you love combined with what the world needs.
- Vocation: What the world needs and what you can be paid for.
- Profession: What you are good at and what you can be paid for.
The Ikigai model encourages a purpose-driven approach, fostering social connectedness and promoting sustainable motivation, personal growth, and leadership and organizational impact.
- To foster a greater sense of self-realization at work, consider adopting community policies that emphasize education-and-self-development, personal-growth, and career-development, aligning with the Ikigai model by encouraging employees to find their passions, missions, vocations, and professions.
- In addition to job responsibilities, individuals can seek opportunities for self-realization through employment policies that prioritize self-leadership skills, offering workshops or resources for identifying and acting on one's Ikigai, promoting personal growth and overall job satisfaction.
