Guides occupy a unique role at MeaningSphere. Through one-on-one virtual sessions, our Guides work with individuals to unpack what really matters to them at work and build an action plan they can start right away.
In previous articles, we’ve shed light on the methodology and framework Guides use, as well as the structure and objectives of the Guided Discussion. Now, we introduce you to a few of the Guides themselves!
If you’re reading this, chances are that work plays a pretty significant role in your life. In 2023, a UKG global survey report delivered an insight many working people already felt in their bones: Your manager has more impact on your mental health than your therapist or doctor, and about the same impact as your spouse or partner. The same survey also found that work stress has a profoundly negative impact on your wellbeing, home life, and relationships—another fact most of us didn’t need to be told!
Work is a big deal. Around here, we believe that the pursuit of a worklife that isn’t just tolerable—but meaningful—is a necessity, not a luxury. Human beings are wired to seek meaning, and we already sense intuitively whether the work we do is meaningful to us or not. But how do we take this “sense” and give it form, language, and structure?
This is the goal that underpins our work—starting with the Meaningful Work Inventory, a self-assessment tool unlike any other. The Inventory works by mapping your experience of work onto a framework called the Map of Meaning, producing a downloadable report that allows you to see what’s lifting you up and dragging you down at work. And that’s it—you'll have fixed your worklife! No need for further self-discovery.
Just kidding (can you imagine?).
Our experience of meaning is never static, and maintaining the balance of ingredients that make our work meaningful to us is a lifelong practice. For many, the MWI report serves as a jumping-off point for personal reflection and growth.
Many Inventory-takers also find they process insights best by talking them out—especially with someone skilled in active listening, who can pose just the right questions to get you thinking. That’s why, once you’ve purchased your report, you’ll have the option to meet with a MeaningSphere Guide. Our Guides are trained to use the Map of Meaning and your Inventory results to help you unpack what “meaningful work” means for you—and ultimately develop an action plan for getting there.
In previous articles, we’ve shed light on the methodology and framework that Guides use, as well as what to look forward to at your Guided Discussion, step by step.
Now, it's high time we heard from these Guides in their own words! Over the coming weeks and months, we’ll be introducing you to our Guides on our social media platforms (we’re on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook) so you can get a sense of who these talented professionals are and how they might even help you in your own meaningful work journey. To kick us off, we’ve handpicked a few profiles to share with you below.
Guide Profile 1: Bill Felty
What Bill says about his Guide work:
“What is essential about a Guided Discussion is that you get a chance to start talking about something out loud to process what’s going on for you. It’s how you come to realizations and how you can learn. You can remain thinking about something in your own head, but talking to someone is very beneficial; you become aware and can take action.”
Guide Profile 2: Amy Myers
What Amy says about her Guide work:
“Some of the people I worked with found that speaking out loud helped them process their feelings. When you admit how you’re feeling out loud, your feelings become more real and true. I heard phrases like, ‘I guess I was more upset than I thought... .’ I watch people make connections for themselves, and I help them along through listening and questioning.
As for what we get as Guides, I think helping others makes us feel good. When I help other people, I leave the session feeling like we did something important, and I was there for someone when they needed it.”
Guide Profile 3: Lauren Apgar
What Lauren says about her Guide work:
“What often comes up are the topics of connection and belonging; these are major contributors to finding meaning. When a connection with coworkers or your organization is missing in your day-to-day work, people can feel that they don’t belong. While you can’t control whom you work with, feeling like you do not connect can feel overwhelming; you can even feel lost. And that has implications. Work becomes less meaningful. If this is the case, exploring what happens and digging deeper into why someone doesn’t feel connected is needed to process the strong emotions and find the appropriate words for an insight or action plan. Going through a Guided Discussion helps clear the muddy waters of the emotions that can come with not finding meaning and not feeling like you belong at work.”
Interested in scheduling a Guided Discussion? Your experience starts with the Meaningful Work Inventory, a 31-item assessment based on the Map of Meaning framework. Click here to get started!
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