Why People Work

Some time ago, a Fortune magazine study surveyed all levels of management, from CEOs to frontline supervisors, “why they worked” – (excluding financial reasons) what was the real meaning to them…

Fortune’s three top reasons “Why People Work”:
1. To make the world a better place
2. To belong to a team
3. To perfect their own technical skills

Do not underestimate the power of these values. One of our consulting roles at Bristol-Myers Squibb Corporation was facilitating infant formula production teams. One of the teams would meet for one hour, once a week, to analyze needed improvements in quality and productivity. Approximately six months after the team began their team journey, they presented several recommendations to management. Bill was involved in one of the management debriefs during which a manager, after listening to the impressive team results, asked the team members, “How do like this team concept?” A member named Sue responded, telling them that she was always proud to tell people she worked for Bristol-Myers Squibb. However, she also said that when people asked her about the specifics of her job, she would always change the subject. Here’s why: Sue was a line attendant assigned to watch the bottles and cans being filled with formula, day after day. If there happened to be a problem, she was there to correct it. Since the line worked fairly smoothly most of the time, the job was routine and boring. Sue went on the tell the managers that when she became part of a team, she was reenergized and now tells people that she is “a member of a team who’s job it is to produce the best quality infant formula for the most affordable price for mothers and babies throughout the world.”

Talk about pride in workmanship! The small change to her job – attending a team meeting one hour once a week – led to both a huge change in her desire to excel and her fulfillment level at work.

Similarly, a clear VISION – making a difference in society and in the lives of customers – can make a major impact on the productivity and commitment of an entire organization’s workforce. Consider an industrial parts distributor. For them, a vision of merit would include striving to be the most cost effective and provide the most efficient service to the building industry. A successful construction industry greatly contributes to the economic success of the region. A healthy local economy means more jobs, better schools, and more opportunities. Most people can find meaning in their careers if they simply rethink the impact their roles have on the community.