Finding Fulfillment Part 3: Progress
Have you ever had a job where every task and achievement felt pointless? It was probably hard to feel motivated or excited about anything. Maybe you counted the hours until you could log off, or you lived for your few weeks of allotted vacation time each year.
It’s easy to blame this type of miserable existence on outside factors — your role isn’t what you hoped, your coworkers aren’t your friends, or your manager drives you crazy.
The truth is, none of those factors are the root of the problem. The real issue is fulfillment — or lack thereof. You see, external challenges are easier to overcome when you’re fulfilled by your work. Fulfillment makes every day and every task feel worthwhile and satisfying. And when you’re fulfilled by work the other areas of your life are enhanced, too. You’re less emotionally drained at the end of the day. You have more energy for family, friends, and passions.
In short, fulfillment isn’t just nice to have. It’s vital for vitality.
How Do I Find Fulfillment?
Do you love the work you do? That’s passion.
Do you believe the work you do matters? That’s purpose.
These are two motivational drivers behind fulfillment. We have discussed both in-depth in our previous articles, and now it’s time to dive into the third (and final) driver: progress. If you haven’t already, be sure to read our Fulfillment Theory for some background.
When you have a combination of passion, purpose, and progress, you experience fulfillment.
What is Progress?
Progress is the movement toward something you want to achieve. It’s continually reaching the smaller milestones that pave the way to a larger goal. True progress is about growth and personal development, which takes time.
Progress is not rushing to check milestones off your list. This may technically get you closer to your goal, but the process is too fast to accommodate real growth and learning.
Progress is also not laboring over every milestone. It’s not about perfection — an unattainable standard that hinders forward momentum.
Progress is getting the right amount of better in the right amount of time.
It’s a balance, but it’s achievable. And incredibly satisfying.
Two Imposters of Progress
Your team is on fire this quarter! Tasks are being checked off the list right and left. Your Slack channels are firing on all cylinders. The energy is palpable! Everyone ends their day with a feeling of accomplishment. But then something strange happens. You send out a company-wide survey at the end of the quarter asking if people have met their personal goals, and most people say no.
How could this have happened? Everyone was so busy, surely they made some sort of progress!
Not necessarily. Two things are mistaken for progress: activity and productivity.
Activity is busyness. It’s a flourish of movement, marked by high energy and sometimes by stress. Your team can be active without ever accomplishing a single thing.
Productivity is an achievement, to be sure. But it’s achieving a bunch of unrelated tasks, many of which don’t ladder up to your goals. There is a place for productivity. For example, hourly employees who fill out their timesheets every week — this is a productive thing to do, but it doesn’t make progress.
To borrow a quote from a previous article on progress,
“It has the movement of activity AND the accomplishment of productivity. It has something else as well. Progress includes the sense that we are actually closer to where we want to be.”
Progress is actively achieving milestones that move you closer to a goal, whether that’s a tangible goal like a product launch or a personal development goal.
Progress in Practice
Making progress is one of the most satisfying aspects of work. Not only does it lead to growth and accomplishment, but it also enhances the days along the way. In the day-to-day, team members who are making progress experience:
Renewed Energy
The knowledge that you are making progress — that your time and efforts are not in vain — is energizing and exciting. It makes the long days worthwhile and the mistakes salvageable.
Work that doesn’t make progress is like driving around the same block over and over and over again. You’re going nowhere fast — and the ride couldn’t be more boring. You can complete the journey on autopilot, and you’ve seen the surroundings many times before. You’d surely dread the drive after a few laps.
But progress is like traveling down a drop-dead gorgeous scenic highway for the first time. You’re engaged — with the road and your surroundings. You drive with a mixture of caution and curiosity, even stopping to take in the view at the best spots. It’s an exhilarating experience.
Progress takes you to new heights, and it’s an energizing way to live and work.
Reduced Stress
Because progress fuels such energy and momentum, it reduces stress as well. When you know you’re getting closer to where you need to be, there’s no need to worry or wonder what else you should be doing.
The most stressful jobs I’ve ever had were the ones full of activity but lacking progress. I spent my days running around like a madman, jumping from project to task to meeting without ever experiencing growth or accomplishment. I was stressed at the end of each day because it felt like nothing was getting done (it wasn’t), which put more pressure on the next day.
As long as you’re making progress, you’re doing your job. You can finish the day strong and feel confident in the effort you put in.
Increased Team Unity
Progress unites us with our team members and leaders. Working alongside others and undergoing mutual growth is a true bonding experience. Plus, it gives us reasons to celebrate! At Saturday Drive, our teams never feel closer than after reaching a milestone together. Everyone feels connected and trust is palpable.
On the other hand, working alongside others without making progress is a recipe for frustration and annoyance. Activities may conflict, people get in one another’s way, and stress takes its toll.
When true progress is being made, we appreciate the efforts of others and want to join in on the journey.
Career Growth
Progress is an act of growth, whether that’s personal growth or the growth of the business. But progress also leads to career growth for employees. It gives them tangible achievements to harness for broader opportunities and new challenges.
Who would you rather hire — someone who’s done the same work year after year with little to show for it other than showing up on time, or someone who’s steadily taken on bigger and better responsibilities?
It’s obvious which individual is capable of overcoming obstacles and tackling challenges. As a team member, progress isn’t just satisfying — it’s a fast track to new career opportunities. As a leader, it’s your responsibility to give your team the chance to make progress. Work with them to set new goals, and coach them as they pursue those goals.
Passion and Purpose
The three motivational drivers aren’t separate experiences that happen to all lead to fulfillment. Instead, each driver feeds the others. Making progress stokes passion and offers a sense of purpose.
You can’t feel passionate and stagnant at the same time.
You can’t find purpose when your efforts never lead to anything better.
These three work in tandem. To keep passion and purpose alive, you must continually make progress.
Takeaway: Better Over Best
Remember, progress is getting the right amount of better — or making something else the right amount of better — in the right amount of time.
Notice I didn’t say progress is about doing your best, creating the best product, or being the best in your field.
Striving for perfection is paralyzing and discouraging. You’ll never feel that sense of accomplishment if you’re aiming for the unattainable. And you’ll never enjoy the breakthroughs or the wins because it’s still not the best. Talk about unfulfilling.
No matter what role you hold or job you perform, when you’re striving for better you’re making progress.
Are You Fulfilled?
I love the work I do.
I believe the work I do matters.
I see the impact my work is having.
When you can confidently make these three statements, you are experiencing fulfillment through passion, purpose, and progress.
As a leader, your greatest opportunity is helping your team members find fulfillment. But how?
Through the cornerstones of motivation: clarity, connection, and collaboration.
The next part of this series will shine a light on each of these. Stay tuned, and be sure to follow our newsletter for more tips and tools for building the kind of company where people love to work.