Work Well Feel Well

Efficiency and caring at work – an awareness-raising campaign

Theme 9: Keeping alive the meaning of our work

As you may have read in the Bulletin, part 8 of the Work Well Feel Well series looks at the importance of aligning with our core values.

Work Well Feel Well

 

Finding meaning in your work: aligning actions with values

Our core values shape our motivation, often without us realising it. When our actions align with what matters to us, our work gains meaning, making challenges easier to overcome. This intrinsic motivation drives us, but as our careers and environments evolve, it’s helpful to regularly reflect on what success means and what truly motivates us.

Balancing our ideals with the realities of daily work is key. If we don’t connect them, we risk internal conflict. Becoming aware of our core values allows us to express them in meaningful ways, helping us navigate challenges while staying true to what drives us.

By consciously integrating our values into our tasks, we can enrich our work experience. Reframing responsibilities to align with what matters most to us fosters both motivation and professional fulfillment.

Gain more awareness on how to keep alive the meaning of your work through the following exercises:

  • exercise 1: reflect on what you like about your job
  • exercise 2: explore the meaning behind day-to-day tasks

Here is another resource that you may find helpful:

  • CERN’s code of conduct outlines the Organization's core values: integrity, commitment, professionalism, creativity and diversity upon which our competency model is built.

The campaign, Efficiency and caring at work, designed by psychologist and specialist in burnout prevention, Catherine Vasey, invites you to explore the topic from different angles, deepen your knowledge, share your experiences and complete exercises made available on this website. We encourage you to take an active part in the campaign and the quest for a better quality of life at work.

Keen to learn more? Read about the Work Well Feel Well project, have a look at the useful resources and watch the micro-talk recording on burnout.