cultivating meaning in the workplace
Inspired humans, thriving organizations
Understanding the power of individual purpose.
Purpose is what energizes, motivates and engages us. Just as each of us strive to imbue our lives with purpose or a reason for existing, we expect the same from the organizations for which we work. However, in today’s execution-focused, profit-driven business culture, that core “reason for being” is not always clear at an organizational level. And, even more importantly, the purpose of the business is often gravely misaligned with the purpose of the individuals that power it.
It is a larger sense of significance that provides each team member with a sense of meaning and accountability within—and for—the organization as a whole. Without this connection, a job is “just a job.” As a result, everything from selection to performance to customer experience suffers. We can do much better for our teams, leadership, and communities.
Informed by our 2012-2014 phenomenological study on the role of meaning in the nursing profession, we have proven that when human and business goals are fundamentally interwoven, purpose isn’t a “plus,” but a vital driver to a business’s sustained growth and success.
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Human strategy that works.
Honoring purpose. the core of performance.
Symbio’s research-backed approach to human strategy puts purpose front and center. Our model is one in which individuals and leaders work together thoughtfully and in service of shared goals. Our studies have confirmed that across industries, there are five main attributes from which meaning can emerge and thrive. Identity, Service, Mastery, Autonomy and a System that supports them are integral to an individual’s sense of purpose. As such, they are also crucial components of Symbio’s Purpose-Driven Engagement ModelSM.
The Five Key Drivers of Purpose
Identity
self-awareness, self-identification, as how one sees oneself in relation to society and others.
Service
desire for connection to others, to providing support or care in times of need.
Mastery
being valued as an expert, having knowledge and moving from a skills orientation to a systems orientation.
Autonomy
the state of being independent, free and self-directed; to exert ones power to influence others.
System
elements that represent the ‘purpose ecosystem’, or a robust infrastructure including leadership vision to support and sustain the other four drivers of purpose: Identity, Service, Mastery, and Autonomy.
“Adopting a Purpose-driven model enables a transformative shift—treating engagement and culture as outcomes of intentional systems. It’s a challenge that requires trust and a commitment to the individual. It may be one of the most important changes you make for your organization.”
~ Kori Joneson, Principal
Symbio Strategies
Learn with
us.
Understand Purpose in your work environment
We’re excited to connect with forward-thinking leaders who want to evaluate and nurture purpose within their organizations. We invite you to take part in our innovative Purpose Assessment. Through this process we’ll help you gauge where your company is. Together, we will co-create a plan for generating greater value through Purpose-driven thinking.
As part of our service offerings and ongoing research and we’re seeking to create client partnerships in these and other areas:
- Team Experience
- Talent Selection
- Leadership Development
- Organizational Strategy
Purpose Drives Performance
Symbio principals, Steph Sharma and Kori Joneson, published Purpose Drives Performance: A Link to Engagement and Performance in the Workplace. This 2015 publication details the two-year study that grounds much of our work.
This multi-phase research reveals how powerfully individual meaning impacts the health and well-being of the organization, it’s employees and customers. We republished our first book into a white paper when our publisher shifted strategy.
We are currently working on our 2nd Edition. Please contact us to learn more about the publishing of the book.
