MEANING AT WORK

The world of work has been experiencing great upheaval - a time of crisis, but also, a time of immense opportunity. The shift to remote and hybrid work, a faltering economy, and social and political upheaval have created overwhelming challenges for employee engagement, innovation, resilience, productivity, and performance.

How can leaders foster a better, healthier, and more productive work environment? Is there a secret ingredient? Enter Wes Adams and Tamara Myles: two positive psychology researchers who trained and teach at the University of Pennsylvania, and who have pioneered a groundbreaking study that found meaning is the most powerful driver for employee happiness, talent retention, and profit.

Contrary to popular belief, the most meaningful work does not only happen in hospitals, nonprofits and schools (and even there it is not inevitable, as the book shows. Even those organizations must have leaders who actively foster meaning or face similar rates of burnout and disengagement). When employees experience meaningful work, organizations become more innovative, adaptable, and attractive to top talent. And, meaningful work increases customer satisfaction and results in greater revenue.

This book, the culmination of years of research and practical implementation, provides a roadmap for leaders to make meaning a cornerstone of their management approach. It details a suite of leadership practices, captured in the "Three Cs Framework" of community, contribution, and challenge that are the pillars of finding meaning at work. The book uses colorful examples of the approach in industries as varied as Chick-fil-A restaurants, the tech company HubSpot, the nonprofit Save the Music, and a small chain of Atlanta-based dog daycare centers. For readers of Chip and Dan Heath, Shawn Achor and Emily Esfahani Smith, the book blends rich narratives with rigorous business research.

It is not enough for work to "not suck." Work can be a place where we feel connected, have a chance to learn and grow, and understand how what we do matters. This book is a breath of fresh air for leaders everywhere.

Wes Adams is founder and CEO of SV Consulting Group, where he works with high-performing companies to develop leadership excellence, build organizational resilience, and deepen employee engagement through a meaningful work lens. He has more than two decades of experience as a successful entrepreneur and strategic partner for Fortune 500s, startups, and NGOs. Prior to founding SV, Wes advised brands such as Google, Audi, Starbucks, and the United Nations at Purpose, the world's leading social impact agency. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and holds a Master's from University of Pennsylvania in Applied Positive Psychology.

Tamara Myles is an accomplished consultant, author, and international speaker with over two decades of experience helping leaders improve business performance. She is the author of The Secret to Peak Productivity: A Simple Guide to Reaching Your Personal Best (AMACOM, 2014), based on her proprietary Peak Productivity Pyramid. Her work has been featured in media outlets such as Forbes, Fast Company, USA Today, SUCCESS, Business Insider, The Boston Globe, and the New York Post, among others. Tamara is an instructor of Positive Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, where she received her Master's in Applied Positive Psychology. She is also a Senior Trainer for the Penn Resilience Program, the world's leading organization for state-of-the-art, evidence-based resilience and positive psychology programs.