What makes work good? Not what you might think

And that's good news

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What makes work good?

It’s a simple question without a simple answer. But high pay and low pressure probably aren’t what matter most.

Photo by CDC on Unsplash

Why do you do your work?

People tend to see their work as a job, a career, or a calling—and only one of those. If it’s a job, you’re doing it for the wages. If it’s a career, it’s for the income but also status and esteem—things most of us value, even if we’d like to believe otherwise. If it’s a calling, a vocation, you’re doing it for personal fulfillment, and it’s likely to be work that matters to the world.

The more you see your work as a calling, the more satisfied you probably are with your life and your job, and the more meaning you are likely to find in your work. (See here, and also Angela Duckworth, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance (Collins, 2018).)

Could this be because those with more resources can choose more interesting jobs and enjoy better lives? Probably not (or not only that): even within one occupation, such as administrative assistants, roughly equal numbers describe themselves as ‘job’, ‘career’, or ‘calling’ people. And having a calling to be an admin assistant brings the same benefits of satisfaction and meaning.

The authors of a related study describe hospital cleaners “actively caring for patients and families, integrating themselves into the workflow of their floor units.” These hospital cleaners “change the meaning of their jobs to be helpers of the sick; see the work of the floor unit as an integrated whole of which they are a vital part.” They’re right to do so: it’s better for their patients, for their colleagues, and for their own satisfaction and fulfillment.

What about the money?

The research on this seems to become more complicated with every year that passes. Money does buy happiness, at least up to a point (some studies suggest a good middle-class income level), but beyond that point, the benefits of earning more are less clear. (One appealing research finding is that, among the rich, those who earned their wealth are happier than those who inherited it.) The bottom line may be that, if you’re managing financially, the most life-improving feature of a new job probably isn’t the pay-bump. And remember the hedonic treadmill, the idea that the pleasure of an increase in income (or even of winning the lottery) wears off and, before long, we find ourselves back at our happiness baseline.

Photo by Allef Vinicius on Unsplash

The pressure of the job

Much of Great Work is about coping with the pressures of tough work. But the most fulfilling job isn’t the one with no pressure. The best jobs may be those that involve a lot of what psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi first described as the state of flow—‘being in the zone’. It’s when you’re fully absorbed in something in which you have some skill and over which you have some control, where you can see how you’re doing and, for a while, you’re removed from your everyday worries. This, thinks Csíkszentmihályi, is the definition of enjoyment.

You’ll know what flow feels like. Maybe teaching a class that’s going well, or in a conversation with a client, patient, or student where you know you’re helping and can feel it’s being appreciated. I’m in the zone as I write this email. I hope it’s something you sometimes experience at work.

Flow at work explains a paradox. Many of us look forward to the workday or the work week ending—but research by Csíkszentmihályi and others has found that we’re often in a better mood and more satisfied when we’re at work. This seems to be because, at work, we’re more likely to be stretching ourselves with flow experiences than we are during our time off, when we may spend less time in flow.¹

You want a job that stretches you. Not too much. But nor too little.

So what does make good work?

There’s a nonprofit called 80,000 Hours that encourages people to find fulfilling work that makes a big difference to the world. The 80,000 Hours folk have studied the psychology that also underpins much of Great Work, and have identified six factors that contribute to a great job.²

1. The work’s engaging. This is the Csíkszentmihályi/flow point. Specifically, you need freedom to decide how to get the job done, clear tasks, variety, and feedback on how you’re doing.

2. Your work helps others. And remember (above) the benefits of doing work that feels like a calling to you—work that matters to you and to the world.

3. You’re good at it (or have the potential to become good at it). Nothing quite matches the satisfaction of knowing you’re doing a good job. (This is one reason why imposter symptoms, about which I wrote recently here, are so horrible.)

4. You have supportive colleagues.

5. The job doesn’t have major downsides. Impossible hours, perhaps, an unpleasant work environment, or a horrible commute.

6. The work fits with the rest of your life.

Photo by Alexandre Debiève on Unsplash

What do you do with this?

The main focus of the 80,000 Hours organization is helping people at the beginning of their working lives figure out a career that’s both fulfilling and impactful. If that’s you, they have all sorts of resources (all free) here. There’s lots of wisdom there, much I wish I’d considered while a student. Be aware, though, that their approach to evaluating impact leads to some surprising conclusions. They currently seem to be down a rabbit-hole about preventing an artificial intelligence catastrophe—a legitimate, if zeitgeisty, concern, but the world’s facing other pressing threats, too.

If you’re more established in your career, or trying to figure out how much longer to remain in your current job, or considering a move or a career change, then these six factors are really useful for auditing both your current role and your options. How does your current job, and any alternative you may be considering, score? All six matter:

1. Engaging?

2. Helps others?

3. You’re good at it?

4. Supportive colleagues?

5. Downsides manageable?

6. Fits with the rest of your life?

And that provides a great framework for your decision. Take a moment to do this for your current job. Your answers might surprise you.

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1. Judith LeFevre, “Flow and the Quality of Experience during Work and Leisure,” in Optimal Experience: Psychological Studies of Flow in Consciousness, ed. Mihály Csíkszentmihályi and Isabella Csíkszentmihályi (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988), Mihály Csíkszentmihályi and Judith LeFevre, “Optimal Experience in Work and Leisure,” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 56, no. 5 (1989): 815–22; Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, Flow: The Classic Work on How to Achieve Happiness, Rev. and updated ed (London: Rider, 2002), pages 158 – 160.

2. Benjamin Todd, 80,000 Hours: Find a Fulfilling Career That Does Good. (Oxford: Trojan House, 2023), pages 13 – 17.