The Business Challenge of Our Time Is Creating Meaningful Work

Enso co-founder Sebastian Buck writes that the most critical current business challenge is work engagement by employees, reports Fast Company . "With a 21st-century business mindset ... an emotional commitment at work is essential," he argues. "An employee turning up for a paycheck in exchange for functional work will not create products that stand apart from functional low-cost versions, or create that magical customer experience, or that team ethic that urges each other on to their very best." Buck cites studies indicating that lower employee engagement encourages greater absenteeism, more errors, accidents and defects, reduced productivity and profitability, less job growth, and 65 percent lower share price over time. He thinks the key to remedying this state of affairs is to offer employees more meaningful work. "What really matters is transitioning organizations to a state where the impact they create has the people that know them best — their own people — waking up in the morning inspired to be part of the work," Buck says. "What we have seen work well is beginning with internal conversations about what people and teams stand for, and what really living up to that would look like," he writes.