97: Finding your purpose at work with Aoife O'Brien
03/18/22 • 13 min
"Employees are looking to work in organisations that have a clearly defined purpose, and whose purpose really aligns with what it is that they want to do themselves as well." – Aoife O'Brien.
Welcome back to Happier at Work! Over the last couple of years, we have all experienced a tremendous amount of change in our lives from experiencing challenging lockdowns, movement restrictions, a lack of human connection and, of course, a complete overhaul in how we operate at work. Home dining tables and spare box rooms unexpectedly became our new working environments, transforming cosy nests into new makeshift office spaces.
In today's solo episode, Aoife revisits the topic of finding your work purpose to discuss developments that have occurred since the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic. Aoife explores how workers are redefining their purposes, looking inward to explore their true professional needs and wants, and how they wish to spend their time. Aoife also discusses the link between employee disengagement and the great resignation. Further key points throughout the discussion include:
The meaning of purpose at work.
Arising opportunities within a pandemic.
Recruitment strategies: The importance of obtaining and maintaining suitable candidates.
The attraction of purpose-driven organisations.
Aoife's journey of bidding farewell to the corporate world.
Overcoming negative work experiences.
Aoife's mission to create happier workplaces.
The link between employee dissatisfaction and the great resignation.
The Sparketype Test: discover the work that makes you come alive.
Have you unlocked fulfilment at work?
THE LISTENERS SAY:
Do you have any feedback or thoughts on this discussion? If so, please connect with Aoife via the links below and let her know. Aoife would love to hear from you!
Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O'Brien:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien
https://www.twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ
https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie
https://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast
Resources:
Listen back to the Happier at Work episode with Fiona English on Meaning at Work.
https://happieratwork.ie/22-fiona-english-on-meaning-at-work/
The Golden Circle Presentation by Simon Sinek
https://simonsinek.com/commit/the-golden-circle
The Good Life Project Podcast with Jonathan Fields
https://www.goodlifeproject.com/podcast
The Sparketype Test
"Employees are looking to work in organisations that have a clearly defined purpose, and whose purpose really aligns with what it is that they want to do themselves as well." – Aoife O'Brien.
Welcome back to Happier at Work! Over the last couple of years, we have all experienced a tremendous amount of change in our lives from experiencing challenging lockdowns, movement restrictions, a lack of human connection and, of course, a complete overhaul in how we operate at work. Home dining tables and spare box rooms unexpectedly became our new working environments, transforming cosy nests into new makeshift office spaces.
In today's solo episode, Aoife revisits the topic of finding your work purpose to discuss developments that have occurred since the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic. Aoife explores how workers are redefining their purposes, looking inward to explore their true professional needs and wants, and how they wish to spend their time. Aoife also discusses the link between employee disengagement and the great resignation. Further key points throughout the discussion include:
The meaning of purpose at work.
Arising opportunities within a pandemic.
Recruitment strategies: The importance of obtaining and maintaining suitable candidates.
The attraction of purpose-driven organisations.
Aoife's journey of bidding farewell to the corporate world.
Overcoming negative work experiences.
Aoife's mission to create happier workplaces.
The link between employee dissatisfaction and the great resignation.
The Sparketype Test: discover the work that makes you come alive.
Have you unlocked fulfilment at work?
THE LISTENERS SAY:
Do you have any feedback or thoughts on this discussion? If so, please connect with Aoife via the links below and let her know. Aoife would love to hear from you!
Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O'Brien:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien
https://www.twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ
https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie
https://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast
Resources:
Listen back to the Happier at Work episode with Fiona English on Meaning at Work.
https://happieratwork.ie/22-fiona-english-on-meaning-at-work/
The Golden Circle Presentation by Simon Sinek
https://simonsinek.com/commit/the-golden-circle
The Good Life Project Podcast with Jonathan Fields
https://www.goodlifeproject.com/podcast
The Sparketype Test
Previous Episode
96: People - the most important business asset with Gillian French
“I think energy is such an important thing. When you walk in as a leader, if you’re coming into the workplace, keeping an eye on your energy, and what you’re actually presenting in the business is really important.” – Gillian French.
Welcome back to Happier at Work! Following two traumatic and life adjusting years facing a global pandemic, major operational shifts are undergoing within organisations and workplaces across the globe. This week on the podcast, Aoife is delighted to be joined by special guest Gillian French. Gillian holds the brilliant title of Expert in Residence with Workvivo. Employee experience, HR and putting people first rather than profit is Gillian’s driver, and on this episode, Aoife and Gillian explore that and a whole lot more!
Gillian is passionate about helping organisations create wonderful sustainable cultures which support workers to flourish, work to their strengths and allow them to show up every day as their true selves. In this jam-packed discussion, Aoife and Gillian explore belonging at work and how people are the most important business asset. Gillian also highlights how work systems were broken pre-pandemic and questions if performance management may soon be a thing of the
past.
Further key points covered throughout include:
An introduction to Gillian French.
Finding a sense of belonging in the workplace.
The ripple effect of energy at work.
The most important business asset.
How to tackle employee disengagement.
How to avoid burnout from work.
Mastering time management at work.
Setting boundaries at work to avoid workaholism.
What does the future of work look like?
The challenges of hybrid working.
The downfalls of competition in the workplace.
How to increase and maintain employee happiness.
What makes Gillian happier at work.
Connect with Gillian French:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillianfrench
Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O’Brien:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien
https://www.twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ
https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie
https://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast
Resources:
Book: Reinventing organisations by Frederic Laloux.
https://www.reinventingorganizations.com/
Playback previous Happier at work episodes:
Andrew Barnes – From 4 Day Week
https://happieratwork.ie/7-andrew-barnes-from-4-day-week/
Andrew Barnes and Charlotte Lockhart – From 4 Day Week
https://happieratwork.ie/34-andrew-barnes-charlotte-lockhart-from-4-day-week-5/
Lasse Rheingans – The 5 Hour Work Day
https://happieratwork.ie/happier-at-work-51-lasse-rheingans-on-the-5-hour-work-day/
Setting boundaries at work with Aoife O’Brien
https://happieratwork.ie/happier-at-work-81-setting-boundaries-at-work-with-aoife-obrien/
Don’t miss out!
Aoife hosts live discussions on LinkedIn with her podcast guests each week, discussing hot topics from episodes and answering listeners’ questions. Connect with Aoife today to ensure you don’t miss out!
Next Episode
98: People are the heart of the business with Niamh O’Brien
“It’s very easy to say we’re offering flexible working but actually what are you changing within how you run your business, how you engage with your staff, how you manage your staff, how you promote your staff, all of those things have to be factored in.” – Niamh O’Brien.
Welcome back to Happier at Work! This podcast is for leaders who put people first and care about engagement and belonging, performance and productivity, leadership, equity and the future of work. Today’s episode is an O’Brien double as joining your host is special guest Niamh O’Brien. Niamh is a director of BDO Talent management at BDO Ireland and holds over twenty years of experience working across recruitment, people solutions, talent management and talent acquisition.
Niamh is passionate and driven about employee experience, diversity, and inclusion at work. In this episode, Niamh unpacks how people are the heart of the business and explains why people are always at the forefront of everything she does. Niamh also reveals why companies should never overlook alternative talent pools and shares valuable advice on why now is the time for welcoming the future of work. Main points throughout the episode include:
An introduction to Niamh O’Brien.
How to embrace flexible work.
The war of talent.
The anticipation of the great resignation.
Career reflections post-pandemic: what really matters?
What does the future of work look like?
The key to attracting and retaining staff.
The rise of outcome-based work culture.
Leading and managing in a remote world.
Dipping into alternative talent pools.
Overcoming self-doubt and imposter syndrome.
What makes Niamh happier at work.
THE LISTENERS SAY:
Do you have any feedback or thoughts on this discussion? If so, please connect with Aoife via the links below and let her know. Aoife would love to hear from you!
Connect with Niamh O’Brien:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/niamhobrien/
https://www.bdo.ie/en-gb/bdo-ireland
Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O’Brien:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien
https://www.twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ
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