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Among most people, there is a shared realization that spending most of our time on something that matters, matters. For example, statistics tell us that we often spend more time with our work family than the members of our household. And while that’s not all bad, it seems vital to make sure that clocked time counts.
Twenty years ago, that’s precisely what some Fayetteville, Arkansas residents felt. A small group of friends started meeting at early morning breakfasts before work to share their life stories. And, as they listened, they realized a common theme being shared week to week: There was no work life and personal life. Instead, the two were integrated. And, if the two were integrated, and this small group of people was struggling to figure it out, there were probably others who could also participate in the conversation.
Making work matter
So with great vision and insight and a new nonprofit status, Workmatters formed. Their mission is to discover the purpose of work and the integration of faith in the marketplace with a desire to use personal development and spiritual growth to bring balance to the shared space.
Over time, relationships and partnerships connected emerging leaders with established mentors as the main crossroads of bringing purpose to the mundane parts of being on the job.
Bottom line: When we shift our lens and look at the framework of working and define and acknowledge our life’s story, then use the combination of the two and bring purpose to our workplace, a sweet spot develops.
Fulfilling work
Have you ever stopped to wonder how fulfilled Americans are in the career work they do day-to-day? How does vision play a role in finding purpose and meaning? If we are spending more time with our co-workers than any other people in our lives, how could we make those relationships more meaningful?
This shift in mindset brings purpose to advising a retailer about cream cheese or packing a box of chicken. It shifts processing a loan application to participating in a family’s milestone moments where they create core memories. It takes tough conversations and corrections and makes them redeemable moments of speaking life into an emerging leader.
What could happen if you spent the first 30 years of your career focused on growing, bringing out the best of yourself and investing in your workplace as a way to create a legacy?
Ways to connect with Workmatters
- Workmatters Institute Young Professionals is the primary way to interact with the organization. This short-term commitment includes personal-story discovery and an impactful speaker series. It also includes a six-month mentorship program building a personal leadership action plan with like-minded people who are humble and hungry enough to learn from others. Participants mention the experience brings clarity to their work with personal growth and professional development as by-products.
- Workmatters Institute Senior Leadership will enroll its first cohort this fall by elevating the young professionals’ experience to that of senior leaders with workplace influence. A similar path of personal reflection leads participants to pursue a leadership action plan with faith and workplace engagement.
Additional resources and opportunities include:
- A one-day, in-person conference focusing on actionable outcomes. Many leadership conferences serve as incubators for ideas. Workmatters uses a two-prong approach of hearing from leaders and quickly moving to workshop experiences with actionable plans.
- A YouTube video series that includes interviews with Arkansas leaders and board members. While the videos are great for personal consumption, they are educational resources for schools to use as leadership examples, classroom curriculum and topical writing prompts for assignments.
- Online Resources with small group curriculums for workplace Bible studies or community connection among workplace leaders. Other resources are great for leadership development and personal growth. Access is free and set up for a self-paced, on-demand experience.
- YouVersion reading plans use an “at work” concept for equipping and personal devotion time.
- Leadership blog and newsletter as resources to consistently challenge and equip leaders in personal transformation.
The Mission
“Workmatters aims to equip 1,000,000 leaders of faith in 10,000 companies by 2025 to fully integrate their faith and work: to live and lead like Jesus in every aspect of their lives!”
Maybe you are their next leader.
The Workmatters Institute application process is open through November and December for their January cohort.
Connect with Workmatters
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Leadership Blog
All photos courtesy of Workmatters
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