Standing on stage in front of several hundred of his peers at the CIO 100 conference, Matson Navigation CIO Peter Weis made an admission that the audience may have identified with, but few would likely say aloud (at least not within earshot of their CEO). Weis matter-of-factly declared that he doesn’t just draw meaning from driving innovation and delivering shareholder value. For him, finding meaning in his work runs even deeper.
“My life would be fully complete without doing another email or desktop upgrade,” Weis said, drawing some laughs and nods from the audience of about 300 CIOs and IT executives at last week’s CIO 100 conference in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.
But his keynote didn’t become a complaint session. Instead, it turned into one of the most inspirational talks of the event. Weis went on to describe how he has deliberately sought more meaning out of his work as CIO for the 132-year-old public shipping company. He urged IT leaders to find meaning in their work too, saying: “Without ignoring your core CIO duties, you can reshape your role and see better results.” He emphasized that the quest for finding more meaning in your work does not absolve you of delivering results for the CEO.
Feeling alive at work
Weis defined meaning as moments in life when you feel most alive. As a CIO, Weis said those meaningful moments come when he takes on projects that others say can’t be done – then does them. He draws meaning from grooming undeveloped talent and brokering new deals. None of his job’s meaningful activities involve technology for technology’s sake, Weis said, but rather they come from how he does his job.
Why is all this touchy-feely meaning stuff so important for CIOs? Because it will drive life satisfaction, organizational performance, and sustainable passion, Weis says. If there’s meaning behind the work you do, then you won’t rely on your annual vacation for respite: “Two weeks in Maui doesn’t make up for the rest of the year,” he said.
Citing a New York Times article about why people hate work, Weis noted that a 2012 global work force study of 32,000 employees found that: “Companies with the highest number of ‘sustainably engaged employees ... had an operating margin ... nearly three times those with the lowest engagement scores.”
Meaning drives innovation
While Weis may not find his meaning in delivering shareholder value, he said he’s absolutely still focused on his organization’s success, saying “meaning drives innovation.”
“Meaning and sustainable passion are the keys to prolonged individual AND organizational excellence,” said one slide. Among the values driving Weis are intellectual curiosity (he said he doesn’t like being the smartest person in the room), empathy, commercial focus and informed optimism. He finds time for mentoring, matching funds for scholarships, and even helped create a spot bonus program for employees who don’t qualify for his company’s bonus program.
He ended his remarks with a challenge for IT leaders: Figure out what is meaningful to you personally and for folks in your organization and make time for it. Find ways to feel alive, leave a legacy, mentor employees, and promote someone who has the skills but may need a little nurturing.
Would your job be more enjoyable if you found your meaning?
