How a Very Old Idea Could Revolutionize Our Approach to Work
Not many MBA programs reference Aristotle in their course reading material, but it may be time to reconsider. The renowned Greek philosopher put forth a concept over two thousand years ago that is remarkably relevant for professional life in the 21st century. It’s called telos and, while ancient, the concept has the potential to revolutionize how we approach our work.
Telos basically means “true purpose.” Think of it this way: you have teeth. The purpose of your teeth is to chew food. But, as Aristotle notes, the true purpose, or telos, of your teeth is to provide nourishment to your body. Seemingly simple, but it’s a profound idea with equally profound implications.
To see these implications take hold, just apply this same line of thinking to your own work. Let’s say, for example, that you work as an accountant for a large corporation. Your purpose is to manage the ledger, but what’s your telos? What do you consider to be your true purpose?
No matter your role, chances are this question will give you some pause, as it should. And that’s a good thing. Exploring the concept of telos in relation to your current role can help ensure you have a more fulfilling experience while performing that role, so it’s an exercise worth doing.
That’s because the concept of purpose at work is important… really important. We talk about the remarkable impact purpose plays in the hearts and minds of employees throughout our upcoming book. More and more team members seek purpose from their workplace, regardless of age and seniority within the company.
For example, did you know that nearly half of today’s workforce – roughly 42% – reports that it’s a priority to work for an organization that has a positive impact on the world, one that has a well-defined sense of purpose? Whether they are young and entering business school, or more established, or even nearing retirement, a significant percentage of people want to work for an organization whose sense of purpose matches their own.
Discussing purpose at work shouldn’t therefore just be reserved for those kumbaya moments at corporate retreats. There are several ways to grapple with the concept of purpose at work, one of which is a role charter.
A role charter is a living, breathing document that defines your roles and responsibilities within your organization. Unlike a to-do list, a role charter helps one strategically define their identity and purpose at work by analyzing some key components of the job itself.
Completing a role charter may be a good way to formalize the discussion around the telos of your work. You’ll be able to list your key responsibilities – sort of the initial purpose(s) of your role (think teeth chewing food). But doing so will also allow you to explore the deeper meaning and true purpose of your work (think teeth nourishing the body).
Identifying your telos may prove challenging at first, but don’t get discouraged. If it’s a concept that has lasted over 2,000 years, it must have some staying power.
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Co-authored by David Brendel and Ryan Stelzer, Think Talk Create: Building Workplaces Fit for Humans will be published by the Hachette Book Group under the PublicAffairs imprint on September 21, 2021. Now available for pre-order!
