Meaningful Work - by Wes Adams & Tamara Myles (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Based on years of academic study and business application, Meaningful Work argues that work that gives employees real purpose comes from the combination of community, contribution, and challenge. But when any one of the three pillars is missing, there's disengagement, burnout, and turnover. It's up to an organization's leaders to provide the tools to help their workers. Meaningful work is the key to building a culture that becomes the fuel for innovation, creativity, performance, and engagement. It is a core value of leadership and the next frontier in a new work landscape"--

Book Synopsis

"A timely, clear, and actionable book" (Adam Grant) that makes the powerful case that meaning at work drives employee well-being, high performance, and even profit

We're in the middle of the most significant transformation in work in over a century. Whether it's remote work, the rise of burnout and "quiet quitting," or the changing values and priorities of employees, leading an organization has never been more complex. But through all this, a single factor remains the core driver of fulfilled, high-performing teams--their belief that their work has meaning.

In Meaningful Work, Wes Adams and Tamara Myles, advisers to some of the world's most successful companies, leverage the science of positive psychology to show leaders why and how to make meaning the cornerstone of leadership practice. It is a practical playbook based on decades of research, including their own groundbreaking multi-year study of meaning at work, and stories from leaders you already admire and others that will surprise and inspire you.

The book reveals that high engagement, happiness, productivity, and financial performance from employees are all outcomes of helping them find meaning at work. And that every job can be meaningful when leaders create a workplace culture that focuses on the three Cs: Community, Contribution, and Challenge.

Whether you lead a team of call center workers, care professionals, cycling instructors, or corporate executives, this book will show you how to take small actions each day to inspire passion and performance in every employee.

From the Back Cover

"A timely, clear, and actionable book about the science and practice of making work more worthwhile."
--Adam Grant, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Think Again

"Meaningful Work is a remarkable guide to more passion, meaning, and greater contribution to the world! If you want to challenge yourself to do more for others, start here!"
--Tom Rath, author of StrengthsFinder 2.0

"Adams and Myles masterfully blend compelling real-world stories with the latest insights from positive psychology to offer a roadmap for transforming organizational culture. This book is a must-read for leaders who want to move beyond traditional management and foster workplaces where employees feel valued, inspired, and driven to achieve their best."
--Dr. Marshall Goldsmith, New York Times-bestselling author of What Got You Here Won't Get You There

"Adams and Myles have tapped into something profound, reminding us that meaning at work matters more than anything else, not only because it unleashes each of our deepest motivations, but also drives long-term impact for an organization. With plenty of useful examples and tools, Meaningful Work gives us a comprehensive roadmap to take action."
--Tina Mylon, chief talent and diversity officer, Schneider Electric

"Every leader today should know the 3 Cs of meaningful work. A must-read for anyone who wants to create a workplace that thrives."
--Dan Heath, #1 New York Times-bestselling coauthor of Switch

"Read Meaningful Work today, and watch the morale in your company improve."
--Arthur C. Brooks, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Build the Life You Want

Review Quotes

"Meaningful Work brilliantly captures the essence of what every modern leader needs to understand: that fostering purpose and passion in the workplace isn't just a nice-to-have--it's critical to unlocking extraordinary performance. With deep research and actionable insights, this book provides a roadmap for leaders who want to ignite the full potential of their teams. A must-read for anyone committed to creating more fulfilling, high-impact work environments."
--Chip Conley, New York Times-bestselling author of Peak

"Meaningful Work is a powerful exploration of how leaders can truly unlock the potential within their teams by creating environments rooted in purpose, well-being, and growth. Adams and Myles masterfully blend compelling, real-world stories with the latest insights from positive psychology to offer a roadmap for transforming organizational culture. This book is a must-read for leaders who want to move beyond traditional management and foster workplaces where employees feel valued, inspired, and driven to achieve their best."
--Dr. Marshall Goldsmith, New York Times-bestselling author of What Got You Here Won't Get You There

"Meaningful Work is a remarkable guide to more passion, meaning, and greater contribution to the world! If you want to challenge yourself to do more for others, start here!"
--Tom Rath, author of StrengthsFinder 2.0

"Meaningful Work is a valuable guide to create a corporate culture where community and purpose converge. With poignant examples and relevant anecdotes, it details how, both personally and professionally, individuals and organizations can thrive when their work aligns with a deeper sense of meaning. With practical insight, it explores how business and community are interdependent, showing that when companies invest in the well-being of their people and the greater good, they not only enhance their bottom line but also contribute to a more fulfilling and sustainable future for all. I recommend Meaningful Work for anyone seeking ways to add purpose to their work life. With wisdom and practical insight, it illustrates how to inspire your team and infuse purpose into your corporate culture."--Kenneth Cole

"A timely, clear, and actionable book about the science and practice of making work more worthwhile."
--Adam Grant, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Think Again

"Adams and Myles offer practical tools for leaders to create environments where employees feel valued, connected, and challenged. They show that meaningful work ignites passion and drives extraordinary performance. By fostering community, contribution, and growth, leaders can transform not just their organizations but society itself. This book provides a powerful roadmap for creating workplaces where people and profits thrive together. This is not just about improving performance--it's about elevating humanity through business, one employee and one company at a time."
--Raj Sisodia, coauthor of Conscious Capitalism

"Every leader today should know the 3 Cs of meaningful work. A must-read for anyone who wants to create a workplace that thrives."
--Dan Heath, #1 New York Times-bestselling coauthor of Switch

"Happy employees feel needed and have a job that matters. As a leader, you have to make this possible. But how? The answers are in this wonderful new book. Read Meaningful Work today and watch the morale in your company improve."
--Arthur C. Brooks, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Build the Life You Want

"People thrive when their work is meaningful, and they feel cared for and part of the shared purpose. Meaningful Work is an inspiring and practical guidebook for anyone looking to improve their leadership and the lives of those in their span of care!"
--Bob Chapman, CEO, Barry-Wehmiller, and author of Everybody Matters

"This book is a must-read for anyone who wants their work to be meaningfully connected to their values and purpose. The authors make a convincing case that every job can and should be meaningful, and they teach you how to live the life you want to live in the most effective and connected way."
--Scott Barry Kaufman, author of Rise Above

"This book is an essential companion for any professional seeking to reimagine a future workplace and workforce that is driven by purpose. Adams and Myles have tapped into something profound, reminding us that meaning at work matters more than anything else, not only because it unleashes each of our deepest motivations, but also drives long-term impact for an organization. With plenty of useful examples and tools, Meaningful Work gives us a comprehensive roadmap to take action (as well as a feeling of hope and inspiration to transform how we work)."
--Tina Mylon, chief talent and diversity officer, Schneider Electric

"What work means to people has gone through dramatic evolution over the last decade, from being a source of income to a source of identity, purpose, and fulfillment. This book is a remarkable resource, offering practical methods to define meaningful work, enabling its thoughtful integration into the employee experience, and measuring the powerful return on meaning."
--Deep Mahajan, VP, talent management, Juniper Networks

About the Author

Wes Adams is founder and CEO of SV Consulting Group. He has led teams that were recognized as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Brands, won multiple Webby Awards, and received two James Beard Award nominations. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

Tamara Myles is a consultant and international speaker with over two decades of experience helping leaders improve business performance. She is a professor at Boston College, an instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, and author of The Secret to Peak Productivity. She lives in Concord, Massachusetts.