Ikigai is a Japanese concept meaning “a reason for being“. Everyone, according to the Japanese, has an ikigai. Finding it requires a deep and often lengthy search of self. Such a search is regarded as being very important, since it is believed that discovery of one’s ikigai brings satisfaction and meaning to life.
Many (smart) organisations are trying to find a way to motivate and engage their work force in order to provide more value to their customers. Luckily for them a lot of consulting companies acknowledge this fact and there is a huge amount of options available to get things moving. Unfortunately most of them focus on a single item in this complex world of work and as such deliver little to moderate impact.
When one really wants to have impact, one will need to make sure to provide a reason for being to the work force. Or in Japanese terms: Ikigai.
Ikigai is composed of 2 Japanese words:
- Iki referring to life
- Kai roughly meaning “the realisation of what one expects and hope”
Or short: “the reason to get up in the morning”.
It often requires a lengthy search of self which brings satisfaction and meaning to life and that’s where Management 3.0 comes into the picture. Management 3.0 provides you with a great collection of tools and techniques you can use to guide your search to your Ikigai.
Below a modern representation of Ikigai showing the relation between what you are good at, what you love, what the world needs and what you can be paid for. Passion, Misson, Vocation and Profession with as ultimate goal: Ikigai.
Management 3.0 can help! How? Keep reading…
What you are good at?
We recently blogged about a technique that can be used to discover where people are good at and where they want to become better in: The Four Levels of the Skill Matrix
In this blog you’ll find details to discover the answer on our Ikigai question in a collaborative manner. Which level of the skill matrix to use is up to you and your needs.
Example:
What you love?
Love is a broad concept of affection and pleasure that can not be pushed on people but might be nurtured or at least taken into account within your context. For this Management 3.0 provides you with Moving Motivators.
A technique that allows you to explore your intrinsic motivators and how they are influenced by the choices you make. This way you can optimise your choices towards more joy, more pleasure, more love and as such get closer to your Ikigai.
What the world needs?
Let’s keep it to the world of work in the context of this post as it is our assumption you are reading this article in that same context and are looking for ways to find your Ikigai at work.
When we talk about needs then we could just simply conclude its about money but you know that’s not working out very well these days. So what is it about? It is about values, the world of work needs shared values that result in great services and products. The key word here is shared and not pushed values.
Management 3.0 is giving us great workshops and ways to discover and cultivate having shared company values in its Company Culture Module.
Using a combination and sequence of workshops (online and F2F) you can discover what values are truly alive in your organisation as well as which values are wanted and with this at hand one can cultivate a culture with shared values and grow closer to your Ikigai.
What you can be paid for?
That’s simple, either become an entrepreneur living your Ikigai or find a company that is interested and wiling to support your Ikigai.
Maybe a bit too simple? Not at all but we do recognise simple can be difficult if it comes to money. But no worries, also here Management 3.0 has a module that covers the money part: Merit Money.
How organisations are dealing with money, bonusses and KPI’s has been such an issue over the last decades that there are several online applications available that support the idea’s behind Management 3.0 Merit Money! And yes, we at Co-Learning are using one ourselves.
Conclusion
If you want to find your Ikigai, your reason to go to work every day, then take action today. Yes, it might be a long journey. Yes, it might be a tough journey. But for sure one of the most rewarding, satisfying journey you’ll have taken.
And what’s even more astounishing? Management 3.0 is giving you the techniques and tools with a sprinkle of fun to accompagny you along the journey. No boring sessions, no boring theory, all serious fun along a way of discovery.