Meaningful Work: Viktor Frankl’s Legacy for the 21st Century (eBook)

Beate von Devivere is a human resources consultant and counsellor with her own company bvd CONSULT based in Frankfurt am Main for more than 20 years. In this role, Beate von Devivere has been consulting international organizations on HR management, leadership and development, training teams and coaching and counseling individuals on professional development, work and life topics. Serving international clients’ needs for answering global challenges in their diverse organizational, management and individual roles, Beate von Devivere is offering an integrated, meaning centred approach, based on Viktor E. Frankl, current research in psychology and neuroscience and positive human development.

Summary 5
Foreword 6
References 8
Acknowledgments 10
Contents 12
Chapter 1: Introduction: Man’s Search for Meaning – More Current Than Ever 20
Chapter 2: The Image of Humans in Search for Meaning 26
2.1 Meaning: Wanting or Waiting? 27
2.2 Meaning Motivation 29
2.3 Meaning Beyond Functional Aspects 29
2.4 Ultimate Concerns 30
2.4.1 “Where Do We Come From?” 31
2.4.2 “What Are We?” 31
2.4.3 “Where Are We Going?” 32
2.5 Ultimate Meaning 33
2.6 Implications of the Discussion for Meaning and Work: Interim Conclusions 33
References 36
Chapter 3: Searching and Finding Meaning: Viktor Frankl’s Approach 37
3.1 Will to Meaning 38
3.2 Meaning of Life 39
3.3 Freedom of Will and Responsibility to Act on It 40
3.4 Values: The Human Condition 41
3.5 Givers and Takers 42
3.6 Conscience: What Is “Right”? What Is “Wrong”? 42
3.7 The Tragic Triad 43
3.8 Existential Analysis 44
3.8.1 Unfolding the Nature of Our Personal Being 45
3.8.2 Existential Analysis in Practice 46
3.9 The Three Dimensions of Human Existence 48
3.10 The Spiritual Dimension 49
3.10.1 A Matter of Clean Language: Definitions of Religion, Religiousness, Spirituality, Mind, and Existential 52
3.10.1.1 Geist, Mind, Spirit, and Spirituality 52
3.10.1.2 Existential 54
3.10.1.3 Religion 54
3.10.2 International Guidelines Regarding Experts’ Dealing with Spiritual Issues 55
3.11 Addressing Religion: The Pivotal Question 56
3.11.1 Religion and Spirituality 57
3.11.2 What Kind of “Ministry”: Frankl’s Approach on Religion 58
3.11.3 “A World Void of Intrinsic Meaning…” 59
3.11.4 Religion and Well-Being: Some Research Data 61
3.12 Addressing Spirituality in the Workplace 62
3.12.1 Spirituality Cannot Be Bought or Implemented 64
3.12.2 Critical Considerations 65
3.13 Implications of Frankl’s Three-Dimensional Approach for Today’s Workplaces 66
References 68
Chapter 4: What Is Man? 71
4.1 Neutrality Is Not Indifference 72
4.2 Ethical Standards Relating to Coaching and Counseling Experts’ Activities 73
4.3 Humanism 74
4.4 Taking Responsibility 75
4.5 Unprecedented Ethical Challenges 76
4.6 Homo Deus? An Existential Crisis of Humankind 77
4.6.1 Homo Deus or Free Will 77
4.6.2 New Sciences: “Nothing but Algorithms” – Twenty-First Century’s Reductionism 78
4.7 Human Reasoning 79
4.7.1 Taking an Attitude 81
4.7.2 The Hybris of Dataism 81
4.8 The Ontological Differences and the Anthropological Unity of Man 82
4.9 What Makes Us Human? 82
4.10 Three Human Conditions 83
4.10.1 Animal Laborans or Homo Faber? 83
4.10.2 Homo Amans 85
4.10.3 Homo Patiens 86
4.11 Conclusions 88
References 88
Chapter 5: Twenty-First-Century Meaning Challenges of Work 90
5.1 Megatrends Shaping our Future 90
5.2 Global Societal Challenges 90
5.3 Work Life in a VUCA World 91
5.4 Four Western World Challenges 91
5.5 Diagnosing the Twenty-First-Century Gap 92
References 94
Chapter 6: Meaning in the Twenty-First-Century Workplaces 95
6.1 Work: A Potential Source of Meaning 95
6.2 Employed and Unemployed 96
6.3 The Janus Face of Today’s Workplaces 96
6.4 Homo Economicus: Powerful Reductionism 98
6.5 Self-Actualization, Pleasure, and Self-Optimization 98
References 99
Chapter 7: A Two-Dimensional Approach 100
7.1 Reconciling Two Dimensions in the Human Being 100
7.2 Freedom and Responsibility in Work 102
References 102
Chapter 8: The Twenty-First Century Cry for Meaning 103
8.1 Mental Health in the Workplace: The Greatest Challenge of the Twenty-First Century 104
8.2 Facing the Existential Vacuum of Our Times 104
8.3 The Four Collective Maladies of Our Times 105
8.3.1 An Ephemeral Attitude Toward Life 106
8.3.2 A Fatalist Attitude Toward Life 106
8.3.3 Conformist or Collectivist Thinking 106
8.3.4 Fanaticism 106
8.4 Continuous Stress 107
8.4.1 Different Types of Stress 107
8.4.1.1 Negative Stress 108
8.4.1.2 Chronic Stress 108
8.4.2 Health Effects of Stress 108
8.4.3 Prevalence of Stress, Anxiety, and Irritability in EU 27 States by Sector 109
8.5 Emerging Risks 110
8.6 Undeniable Suffering 110
8.6.1 Selected Mental Health Data 110
8.6.2 Suicide 112
8.7 Brain-Based Economy 113
8.7.1 The Five Brain Chains 113
8.7.2 The Great Convergence 114
8.7.3 Giving Brainy Answers 114
References 114
Chapter 9: Man, as He Is 116
9.1 The Self 117
9.1.1 Self-Detachment and Self-Awareness 118
9.1.2 Self-Acceptance 118
9.1.3 Self-Efficacy 119
9.1.4 Self-Esteem 119
9.1.5 Self-Determination and Autonomy 119
9.1.6 Self-Actualization 120
9.1.7 The Limitations of the Self-Concept 121
9.1.8 The Self-Focus of Increased Management Attention 121
9.2 Sense of Coherence 121
9.3 Self-Care 122
9.4 Competence, Calling, and Autonomy in the Workplace 123
9.4.1 The Sense of Calling 124
9.4.2 The Path to Purpose 125
9.4.3 Living the Calling 126
9.5 Motivation 126
9.5.1 Intrinsic Motivation: The Inherent Given 126
9.5.2 We Are All Intrinsically Motivated 127
9.5.3 Suggesting a Reconciliation of Two Motivational Theories 128
9.6 Building Resilience 130
9.6.1 Inner Strengths Comprising Resilience 131
9.6.2 Resiliency Strategies 132
9.7 Empathy and Compassion 133
9.7.1 Empathy 133
9.7.2 Compassion 133
9.8 Self-Transcendence 134
References 138
Chapter 10: The Inherent Demand Quality of Present Work Life 140
10.1 Intermediate Bottom Line 141
10.2 Making the Case for Promoting Well-Being and Health in the Workplace 143
10.3 Three Levels of Health Interventions 145
10.3.1 First-Level Prevention 145
10.3.1.1 Individual Protective and Risk Factors 146
10.3.1.2 Protective Factors for Staff Health and Well-Being 146
10.3.1.3 Individual Risk Factors 146
10.3.2 Second-Level Prevention 147
10.3.3 Third-Level Prevention 147
10.4 Awareness Raising and Training in the Workplace 147
10.5 Integrated Health Management Approaches 148
10.5.1 European Council Directives 148
10.5.2 The Luxembourg Declaration on Workplace Health Promotion 149
10.5.3 European Network for Workplace Health Promotion (ENWHP) 149
10.5.4 The ProMenPol Project 149
10.5.5 Standards Council of Canada 150
10.6 Conclusions 150
References 150
Chapter 11: Initiating the Copernican Turn: Answering the “What for” 152
11.1 The What for: The Meaning of It All 152
11.2 Meaningful Work 154
11.3 Meaning in Work: A Means or an End 155
11.3.1 Meaning as an End 155
11.3.2 Meaning as a Means: The Potential Dark Sides of Man’s Search for Meaning 156
11.4 The Human Need for Freedom 158
References 159
Chapter 12: Toward a Meaningful, Integrated Approach: We Reap What We Sow 160
12.1 Appreciative Inquiry 160
12.2 Positive Psychology and Finding Meaning in Work 161
12.3 The Concept of Good Business 162
12.4 Unchaining the Brain Chains: The Attitude Taken 162
References 163
Chapter 13: Igniting the Spark in Every Person 164
13.1 Theory U 164
13.2 Givers and Takers 165
13.3 The Diamond in the Rough 167
13.4 Reinventing Organizations 167
13.4.1 An Evolutionary Approach to Humanity 168
13.4.2 From Scarcity to Abundance 169
13.4.3 Five Stages of Human Development: Breakthroughs in Human Consciousness 170
13.5 Core Human Strengths 172
13.6 A Leap in Meaningful Work 173
13.6.1 Success Ensues 173
13.6.2 Structures, Practices, and Cultures of Pioneer Organizations 174
References 174
Chapter 14: New Work: New Culture 175
14.1 New Work Best Practices 177
14.1.1 Wala Heilmittel GmbH 178
14.1.2 Augenhoehe: Reinventing Organizations “On an Equal Footing” 179
14.1.2.1 Searching for Fair Relationships and Cooperation 179
14.1.2.2 Unfreezing Potentials on Eye Level 179
14.1.3 Resourceful Humans and Human Resources 180
14.1.4 Fair Finance: Sustainable Banking 181
14.2 Meeting Staff Members’ Needs 182
References 182
Chapter 15: Values: A “New Surge of Responsibleness” Arising 184
15.1 Character Strengths and Virtues 185
15.2 Good Work: When Meaning, Responsibility, and Conscience Meet 189
15.2.1 The Three E’s 189
15.2.2 The Three M’s 190
15.3 Prosocial Impact of Work and Meaningful Occupations 191
15.4 Meaningful Organizations: Organizational Character 192
References 193
Chapter 16: Leadership: Taking Responsibility 195
16.1 Addressing the Diamond in the Rough 195
16.1.1 Being Directed to Someone Other Than the Self 196
16.1.2 Igniting Engagement 197
16.1.3 Entering the Realm of Freedom 198
16.2 Transformational Leadership: Overcoming Self-Interest 199
16.3 When People Identify with a Purpose Greater Than Themselves 201
16.4 The Culture You Create or the Culture You Destroy 203
16.5 Manifesting the Human Spirit: Exercising Meaningful Leadership 205
16.6 The Conductor as a Musical Collaborator 206
16.7 Integrity and Character-Based Leadership 208
16.8 Leading from Who You Are 209
16.9 Leading Abundant Organizations 209
16.10 Life’s Entrepreneur: From Know-How to Know Why 211
16.11 Being Whole: Addressing Mind, Body, and Soul 212
16.12 An Awareness-Based Global Leadership Platform: Creating Transformative Change 214
16.12.1 Spaces of Global Leadership Learning 214
16.12.2 Open Mind, Open Heart, and Open Will 215
16.13 Leading: “The Revolution Has Begun” 215
References 217
Chapter 17: The Human Potentials 219
17.1 The Art of Practice: Taking the Klimt Perspective 219
17.2 The Good Life: The Courage to Be 222
17.3 From Abundance to Gratitude and Giving 223
17.4 Building a Culture of Purpose 223
17.5 Human Dignity: A Transition Unfolding 226
17.5.1 The Dignity Economy 226
17.5.2 Enhancing Dignity in Various Branches 227
References 228
Chapter 18: Meaning, Work, and Well-Being: Empirical Findings 230
18.1 Assessment of Meaning 230
18.2 Empirical Findings of Meaning Fulfillment 233
18.3 Meaning and Work 235
18.4 Existential Approaches and Findings 237
18.5 Linking Existential Fulfillment to Work Load and Work Engagement 238
18.6 The Difference Between “Why?” and “What For?” 240
18.7 Meaning Awareness and Storytelling 240
18.8 A Work of Service for Others 241
18.9 Meaning Awareness and Sources of Meaning 241
18.10 Work: A Broader Transcendent Life Purpose 242
18.11 The Future of Empirical Meaning Research 244
18.12 Discussion: Limitations of Empirical Research on Meaning 245
References 249
Chapter 19: The Human Capacity: Current Approaches in Humanities 252
19.1 New Findings in Neuroscience 252
19.2 Mirror Neurons 253
19.3 Investing in Caring Economics 253
19.4 The Neuroplasticity of Our Brain 254
19.4.1 The Co-construction of Identity and Meaning 255
References 255
Chapter 20: Meaning-Focused Approaches in Coaching, Counseling, and Psychotherapy 256
20.1 Coaching and Social Counseling Services in the Workplace 257
20.1.1 Coaching Services 258
20.1.2 Social Counseling Services 260
20.1.3 Differences Between Coaching and Counseling Services 264
20.2 Existential Counseling and Coaching 266
20.2.1 The Four Worlds of Existence 266
20.2.2 Addressing Meaning in Workplace Services 267
20.2.3 Existential Analysis of Workplace Issues 269
20.2.3.1 Will to Meaning 271
20.2.3.2 Freedom of Will 271
20.2.3.3 Meaning of Life 272
20.3 Interventions in Workplace Counseling and Coaching: An Integrated Approach 273
20.3.1 Standard and Logotherapeutic Interventions 274
20.3.2 Impact and Outcomes of Workplace Counseling and Coaching 275
20.3.2.1 General Outcomes 275
20.3.2.2 Evaluation of Meaning-Oriented Counseling in the Workplace 277
20.4 Discussion 279
20.5 Psychotherapeutic Approaches 280
20.5.1 Third Wave Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) 280
20.5.2 Acceptance and Commitment Treatment (ACT) 280
20.5.3 Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy 280
20.5.4 Systemic Approaches 281
20.5.5 Hypnosystemic Concepts 281
20.5.6 Brief, Solution-Focused Approach 282
20.5.7 Strengthening Mindfulness 282
20.5.8 MBSR Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction 283
20.5.9 Potentials and Pitfalls of the Mindfulness Movement 284
20.5.10 Positive Psychology Therapy PPT 284
20.5.11 Conclusions 286
References 286
Chapter 21: The Return of Philosophy to Every Day Life: Potentials for the Twenty-First-Century Renaissance 288
21.1 Existential Philosophy and Existentialism 289
21.2 The Rediscovery of Ancient Philosophy 292
21.3 Eudaimonia: Happiness Through Living Virtues 293
21.4 Plato’s Concept of “Psyche” 295
21.5 Aristotle’s Approach: The Good Life 296
21.6 Stoicism 296
21.7 Michel Foucault’s Radical Demand for Care for the Self 297
21.8 Self-Care, Self-Cult, and Self-Addiction: Differences 298
21.9 Exercising Care for the Self 299
References 300
Chapter 22: Optimism in the Face of Adversity 301
22.1 Frankl’s Concept of Tragic Optimism 301
22.2 MCCT: A Holistic, Meaning-Centered Approach 302
References 304
Chapter 23: A Meaning-Centered Integrated Approach: Viktor Frankl’s Legacy for Twenty-First-­Century Meaningful Work 305
23.1 Work and Life: A Difficult Relationship 305
23.2 Meaning and Work: A Means or an End? 307
23.2.1 Meaning as an End of Being 307
23.2.2 Existential Analysis of the Individual Work Life 309
23.2.3 Meaning: A Terminal Value 310
23.3 Meaning in Work: Situational Values 310
23.3.1 Creative Meaning Values in Work 310
23.3.2 Experiential Meaning Values in Work 311
23.3.3 Attitudinal Meaning Values in Work 313
23.4 Meaningful Work: A Means? 314
23.5 Commonalities to Share 315
23.6 Working Together for Finding Meaning in Today’s World 317
References 320
About the Author 321
Index 322