5 Keys to Meaningful Work (& How to Achieve Each)

Many people are rejecting “hustle culture,” the idea that you should constantly be productive to make more money and reach more goals, and embracing greater ease, balance, and meaning in their work. 

Nearly half of women—44 percent—say they will only hustle for work that feels meaningful, according to a recent InHerSight survey. This signals a growing shift in how much women value purpose over hustle. The desire to attain meaningful work is increasing among employees across industries, generations, and walks of life, underscoring a pivot away from burnout culture and toward careers that align with impact and fulfillment. 

While everyone defines “meaningful work” differently, there are five key elements that many can agree on: values alignment, visible impact, autonomy, growth and mastery, and belonging.  

By understanding what these keys mean, why they matter, and how each one fits into your pursuit of a meaningful career, you can attain work that feels more worthwhile. 

Five keys to meaningful work—and how to achieve each

1. Values alignment

Definition: Work that reflects your personal values or principles.

Why it matters: Seeking purpose in your work can lead to greater satisfaction. A study by LinkedIn and Imperative shows that 73 percent of purpose-oriented workers are satisfied with their jobs, compared to just 64 percent of workers who are not purpose-oriented. 

How to achieve values alignment:

1. Identify your values using a values assessment, such as CliftonStrengths or the CareerOneStop Values Matcher.  

2. Audit your current and previous roles to see where your work aligned (or misaligned) with your values. 

3. Research companies’ mission statements and social impact data to find employers that match your values. 

4. Revise your resume to highlight work or projects that reflect your personal values, and attract the types of employers who share similar values.

2. Visible impact

Definition: Seeing tangible outcomes of your work and how it makes a difference.
Why it matters: Employees who can see how their work benefits others are often more likely to feel motivated and valued. Visible impact also helps employees easily identify how they have made a difference in their roles, which is vital to career and resume-building.  

How to achieve visible impact:

1. Track small wins regularly to remind yourself of your contributions.

2. Create feedback loops to understand how your work helps colleagues or customers.

3. Volunteer for projects that are clearly impactful and measurable, like user research, product launches, or customer service improvements.

4. Share your results in meetings or on internal team platforms to highlight your work’s outcomes.

3. Autonomy

Definition: The freedom to choose how, when, or what you work on.
Why it matters: People value autonomy at work, and may even leave their jobs if they don’t have enough of it. A 2021 report by McKinsey & Company confirms that employers who fail to meet employees’ needs around autonomy and flexibility will drive good talent away. 

How to achieve autonomy:

1. Negotiate flexible hours or remote days with your current employer.

2. Manage your calendar and designate focus time to gain more control over your daily schedule.

3. Track when and how you do your best work, then advocate for that structure.

4. Growth and mastery

Definition: Opportunities to learn and master new skills, and confidently try new things.
Why it matters: Professional development and growth opportunities are important to employees across levels and industries. A 2022 McKinsey study shows that frontline employees value job growth, viewing it as a means of securing greater pay and stability. Further, data consistently reflects that both Millennial and Gen Z employees consider growth and learning opportunities as a determining factor in whether they will accept a job offer.  

How to achieve growth and mastery:

1. Enroll in one new course or workshop related to your professional interests.

2. Ask for projects or tasks that allow you to grow or fill gaps in your experience.

3. Find a professional mentor or coach to help identify and track your goals.

5. Belonging

Definition: Feeling accepted, supported, and part of a community at work.
Why it matters: Research from BetterUp highlights the importance of helping employees feel connected at work, noting that a sense of belonging can lead to a 56 percent increase in job performance and a 50 percent decrease in turnover. 

How to achieve belonging:

1. Schedule regular 1:1s with people in your network.

2. Join a professional group, employee resource group, or online community aligned with your values or goals.

3. Acknowledge your network’s achievements and contributions.

4. Set boundaries to preserve your energy for interactions that feel meaningful.

Things to keep in mind 

Creating a path for meaningful work takes time, but consistently focusing on the keys, taking actionable steps toward each one, and reflecting on how this is all showing up in your career can help you secure the opportunities you want. 

As you work on this, remember these pointers: 

• Your values may change. The things you value now may not be the same within a year or two. Remain flexible so that you can embrace changes in your values while continuing to work toward your goals.  

• Every day/week won’t “feel” meaningful. Even meaningful work doesn’t always feel important. You may be helping people, for example, but still have to perform tedious or unfulfilling tasks in the process. Your work should feel meaningful and fulfilling more often than not, but it’s okay if it doesn’t feel that way every day.

• Meaningful work requires rest, too. “Hustle culture” also applies to meaningful work, which can still lead to burnout or stress. Work on maintaining a solid identity outside of work and prioritize rest and reflection for a healthy work-life balance.