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Dan Ariely (2013) indicated that in many jobs that become Sisyphean through repetition, it can be difficult to maintain focus on meaning. Sisyphus was condemned by the gods to endlessly roll a large stone up to the top of hill, which would then roll back down to the bottom. The idea was that there is no punishment worse than futile and meaningless labor (Homer & Mitchell, 2011).
Viktor Frankl (2006) said “Those who have a 'why' to live, can bear with almost any 'how.’” This is just as true regarding our work as it is in other important areas of life. When we understand the meaning behind what we do, it gives our work a greater purpose.
When people ask what I do for a living they are normally taken aback when I say that I am a helicopter pilot. I commonly hear replies like “that is a cool job.” However, my work can feel Sisyphean at times. My job is to fly government inspectors out to oil platforms and rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. Every day for me is the same; I get to work, check the weather, do a preflight inspection on my assigned helicopter, and then wait for the passengers to arrive. When they arrive we load up and take off for a flight that lasts anywhere from 20 to 90 minutes. I stay with the inspectors on the rig or platform while they are doing the inspection, and when they are done we fly back. Although I really do enjoy flying, after doing the same thing year after year, it has become routine and monotonous. I oftentimes struggle to identify the meaning. In fact, that is one reason I decided to pursue a master’s degree; to give the time that I spend on the platforms waiting for my passengers more meaning.
Frankl identified three sources of authentic meaning: “creative values (i.e., ‘by doing or creating something’), experiential values (i.e., ‘by experiencing something or encountering someone’), and attitudinal values (i.e., ‘by choosing one’s attitude toward suffering’)” (as cited in Pattakos & Dundon, 2017). I believe that I can find a deeper meaning to the work that I do in all three categories. I derive great satisfaction through education and improving my abilities. I have always placed high value on learning new things and continually refining my skills (last year my wife and I learned to scuba dive!). As I make strides to improve my knowledge and ability as it applies to my work I can find authentic value in the creative realm. As I experience the wonder of flight, the joy of soaring over the clouds, and the freedom it brings, it adds joy to my life and meaning to my work. Interaction with my passengers, coworkers, and others is enjoyable and enriches my life. Helping them become their best selves helps me to be better. One area in which I can improve is in finding authentic meaning by choosing to always have a positive attitude despite repetition, monotony, the stress of the daily grind. I have noticed at times that I have started to get negative about my work, dreading the beginning of the work week, and slogging through to the weekend. As I have recognized this negativity and decided to take control of my attitude, and have consciously made an effort to improve, I have noticed greater satisfaction and enjoyment in my work. In a way this is like the muscles that Sisyphus developed by constantly pushing on the rock. I have become more aware of my attitude and developed an ability to control it. A big part of maintaining a positive attitude is simply reminding myself that I have a great job that provides my family and I the things that we need.
As I recognize the meaning in the work that I do I am in a better position to help others recognize meaning for themselves. In my position I am not able to influence the compensation or rewards that are given. What I can do is help my coworkers and those I oversee recognize the intrinsic value and rewards of the job. Intrinsic outcomes are those that are derived from successful job completion. Some examples of intrinsic rewards are “sense of purpose, feelings of accomplishment, self-esteem, and the development of new skills” (Whetten & Cameron, 2016). Helping those I oversee to feel satisfied in another safe flight, another mission accomplished, and another happy customer will help them have greater meaning in their work.
In my line of work I believe that the key is in attitude. I believe that a negative attitude is very contagious. It is very easy to adopt a negative attitude and allow minor annoyances to become major complaints. Those major complaints become our focal point, and we lose sight of the good that comes with the job. Helping my coworkers maintain focus on the positive aspects of our employment is essential to helping them find meaning in their work.
References
Ariely, D. (2013, April 10). What makes us feel good about our work? [Video file] https://youtu.be/5aH2Ppjpcho
Frankl, V. E. (2006). Man's search for meaning. Boston: Beacon Press.
Homer., & Mitchell, S. (2011). The Iliad (1st Free Press hardcover ed.). New York: Free Press.
Pattakos, A., & Dundon, E. (2017). Discovering meaning through the lens of work. Journal of Constructivist Psychology, 30(1), 42-49. 10.1080/10720537.2015.1119084
Whetten, D. A. & Cameron, K. S. (2016). Developing management skills, 9th ed. Boston, MA: Pearson.
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