Experiences of Awe and Meaning at Work

Project Description

The emotion of awe has become an increasingly popular topic of interest for social science researchers over the past two decades. Evidence suggests that awe has a unique impact on individuals’ well-being, beliefs, and behaviors, in large part because the emotion evokes a sense of being connected to something larger than the self. Though we often think of awe as a momentous, all-encompassing emotion that can only happen on rare occasions in one’s life, such as when we visit a natural wonder like the Grand Canyon or witness the birth of a child, milder forms of “everyday awe” also exist and can be elicited with greater frequency and less effort.

While most of the empirical research on awe has been focused on the personal realm, a small but growing body of research makes the case that these milder forms of awe also can, and should, be elicited in workplace contexts. The Next Level Lab seeks to understand how experiences of everyday awe manifest in work contexts, particularly those that have not been well-studied in the existing literature, and how these experiences may contribute to a sense of meaning and purpose at work. We are especially interested in exploring this phenomenon in the context of green jobs, as prior research has demonstrated the important role that awe plays in facilitating an appreciation for the planet and a disposition toward sustainability.  

Resources

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  Experiences of Awe and Meaning at Work
  This learning module provides an overview of the existing research on awe and how it can contribute to a sense of meaning and purpose at work, and offers reflection prompts to consider how you might cultivate the conditions for more awe-inspiring workplaces.
  

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