“We have three innate psychological needs,” writes Dan Pink in his book Drive: The Surprising Truth Behind What Motivates Us. “Competence, autonomy, and relatedness.” [1]
Dr. Rangan Chatterjee learned this firsthand when a private company took over a practice he worked at. Once flexible in his work, Dr. Chatterjee was soon required to adhere to its strict operating procedures. [2]
In Chatterjee’s words,
I’d find myself coming home feeling wound up and stressed. . . . I’d lie in bed all night sighting and stewing, then go back into work the next day feeling worse than ever.
Having read about the psychological benefits of working in service to others, Dr. Chatterjee began taking walks on his lunch and reflecting on the pain he was relieving for the people in his community. Not long after, he felt refreshed and energized, calling his reframe “an incredible tonic.”
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Change is inevitable. At times, that change is inward, such as how we view our job role. At the start, we might feel excited, eager to hit an industry milestone, or leave our mark on the work we’re doing. But over time, as the novelty wears off, we often fall into the trap of “going through the motions.”
Other times, as in Dr. Chatterjee’s case, the role itself changes due to outside interference. Covid-19, to borrow an ongoing example, has changed how many industries now operate. A black swan changed the very nature of how millions of people now go about their daily work.
One reframing exercise Dr. Chatterjee advises to reconnect with our work is “The Three Why’s,” which involves asking: Why does it matter? Why does it matter? Why does it matter?
To borrow an example from Charles Duhigg’s book, Smarter Faster Better, imagine a doctor whose least favorite activity is grading student papers. [3]
To motivate himself, he might reframe the activity by focusing his attention, not inwardly, on himself, but outwardly on how his work might benefit the wider world.
He might write,
Why does it matter that I grade these student papers? Because the university will be able to collect tuition dollars. Why does it matter? Because the university can fund my laboratory. Why does it matter? Because I can pursue my cancer research and potentially save millions of lives.
Much like the Five Why’s, the Three Why’s uncovers a deeper meaning. By reframing how you view your role, you can regain autonomy and find a way to serve a cause bigger than yourself.
Footnotes
[1] Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink.
[2] The Stress Solution: The 4 Steps to a Calmer, Happier, Healthier You by Dr. Rangan Chatterjee.
[3] Smarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg.
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