Unlocking Your State of Flow: Finding Fulfillment at Work
Unlocking Your State of Flow: Finding Fulfillment at Work
New LinkHr Have you ever considered what truly energizes you at work? Do you feel a genuine sense of fulfillment in your job? Recently, I’ve been reflecting on these questions as I’ve found myself in a state of flow. Let’s dive into the concept of energy-generating work and how it can transform your professional life.
The Flow State
Hungarian psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi introduced the concept of the “flow” state. It’s that magical state where you’re completely absorbed in an activity, and nothing else seems to matter. To attain this state, the level of challenge must match your skillset, and understanding your strengths is the key. Without this alignment, each day can feel like it’s slowly depleting your energy.
Impact on Job Satisfaction and Fulfillment
Finding work that energizes you is not just a personal win; it has a ripple effect on your health, engagement, productivity, team morale, and more. Job satisfaction and fulfillment directly affect the quality of our professional lives.
Supporting Your Team’s Flow State
So, what can People Managers do to help their team find their flow? The answer lies in meaningful one-on-one conversations. Regular discussions with your direct reports about what they love, what they dislike, what aligns with their skillset, and what presents a challenge can be transformative. These conversations identify what work is energy-generating and what’s energy-depleting. The next step is to find ways to incorporate more of the former into their roles.
Finding the Right Fit
Sometimes, it becomes evident that a job is not the right fit for an employee. It’s a perfectly acceptable part of the journey. Through reflection and discussions with a supportive manager, employees might realize this and embark on a path to discover their true calling.
Not everyone is fortunate enough to discover their state of flow in their first job. It may take a few tries, and that’s completely okay. Each experience is a stepping stone on the path to professional fulfillment.
