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journey of meaning at work, The

Group Facilitation, Spring 2003 by Epps, John

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4Cf. Herbert, Nick (1985). Quantum Reality: Beyond the New Physics, An Excursion into Metaphysics and the Meaning of Reality. New York: Doubleday Anchor, especially. Bell's Interconnectedness Theorem, pp. 50-52 and 211-223.

5 This approach does not suggest or imply that meaning requires one to be "externally dependent"- or "internally dependent." Meaning at work is not simply manufactured by the self, nor is it simply

created by the environment. It is an intensely personal reality with an objective referent. Both internal and external factors play a significant role in the journey of meaning. Having a great working environment does not guarantee the experience of meaning, nor does having a lousy one preclude it. But the journey of meaning at work includes both personal decisions and external realities. The "map" presented below makes that point by presenting the phases as personal experiences of the external environment.

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6 This schema is different from the one that suggests first, a latent meaning, second, a crisis/awakening, and third, a discovery. This schema elaborates on the "discovery" phase and finds it not at all static but rather ongoing.

7 Cf. the bibliography compiled by Jean Watts in "Think Tank on Technology of Meaning" in Proceedings ofL4F Conference, 1998, listing 58 works, 55 of which were written in the 1990s and in thel 9 80s.

8 Covey, Stephen (1989). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. New York: Simon & Schuster.

9 Lundin, Stephen, Paul, Harry, and Christensen, John (2000). Fish! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results. New York: Hyperion.

Collins, James C. and Porras, Jerry L. (1994). Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies. London: Century.

11 Cf. Handy, Charles (1994). The Empty Raincoat: Making Sense of the Future. London: Hutchinson, and Autrey, James (1994). Life and Work A Manager's Search for Meaning. (New York: William Morrow & Co.

12 Terez, Tom, http://www.betterworkplacenow.com/akeyfind.html.

13 A similar journey goes on in the quest for meaning in the context of personal life. First there is a phase of progress and milestones; second, a phase of disillusionment in which your progress seems to cease; and finally, a phase of persistence in which you keep on keeping on. This paper, however, examines only the experience of the journey of meaning at work.

14 This case came to light during training teaming for partners of Redd Barna (Norwegian Save the Children) conducted in Sri Lanka by Ann Epps, Judy Gilles, Mary D'Souza, and Kevin Balm in October 1995.

13 At this time of writing, Tiger Woods, arguably the most gifted golfer ever to have played, seems to have hit this stage - he finished out of the top 10 for three consecutive tournaments. Newspapers report him saying that he's doing well on either fairways or greens, but he can't seem to get them both together.

16Although I staunchly advocate developing personal mission statements, it is not a prerequisite to finding meaning in purposeful work. Many people adopt the mission of their organization as their personal mission.

journey of meaning at work, The

Group Facilitation, Spring 2003 by Epps, John

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