The Business Romantic

Millennials seek a sense of meaning from their jobs that most employers fail to provide.

We live in a strange world. In an age where likes are currency, connecting with others and sharing our lives seems to be our number one priority. Yet we’re more distrustful than ever.

More than half of the Millennial generation – those born between the early 1980s and the early 2000s – have shared photos of themselves online. This would seem to indicate a desire to reach out to other people, right? Why, then, do less than a fifth of Millennials say they trust others? This is a paradox that leaves us increasingly unhappy. How did we find ourselves here?

Although social media platforms promise to connect us with others, they only serve to amplify our anxieties about social and economic status. There’s always going to be someone in your news feed who is making more money, traveling to more exciting places and, apparently, having more fun than you.

Of course, we won’t stand for this! Many of us work harder and harder, chasing pay rises and promotions to assure ourselves that we’re just as successful as our Facebook friends. Unfortunately, this means we’re drifting further and further away from what we really need: true connection with others.

But if we’re going to build authentic relationships with those around us, we don’t need to delete our Facebook accounts, leave our jobs and go off the grid. We can actually continue, more or less, the same activities. All we need is a change in mindset.

Why not be a business romantic? Rather than working himself to the bone for financial reward, a business romantic looks for work that offers valuable experiences, and is happier because of this.

Research by the Harvard Business Review reveals that employees who find meaning in their work are more likely to stay with their company, indicate higher job satisfaction and be more engaged. Unfortunately, business romantics are a rare breed.

According to a 2013 Gallup poll conducted in 140 countries, only 13 percent of employees worldwide are fully involved in and enthusiastic about their jobs. Some 63 percent are “not engaged” and “lack motivation.” About 24 percent are “actively disengaged,” meaning that they are unhappy and unproductive, and subsequently spread negativity to coworkers.

Companies would benefit enormously from turning their employees into business romantics. But how are they supposed to do that? Read on!