As an employee with a satisfactory and increasing salary, and having received external recognition for my work, I find myself contemplating a career change after working one and a half years at the current company. Why, you might ask?

This sentiment becomes particularly pronounced towards the year’s end, during the budget preparations for the forthcoming year. Management discussions often revolve around revenue and the expected financial contribution of each employee. Working in consultancy, a focus on figures is somewhat expected. However, this perspective reduces employees to mere cogs in the revenue-generating machine. While revenue is undeniably crucial for the company, it holds less significance for an employee.

My motivation for work stems from the joy of it. I relish solving problems, acquiring new skills, and tackling challenging tasks. I thrive on overcoming challenges. Yet, this enthusiasm wanes when the tasks seem arbitrary, devoid of a clear purpose or bigger picture. And I can think of the reasons myself and find why I am doing the work I do, but my inner voice is not enough as long as I see my manager focusing solely on projects and numbers.

For an employee, work isn’t just about the numbers; it should be a compelling reason to rise each morning. Simply contributing to the company’s revenue doesn’t fulfil this need. To all managers out there: it’s imperative to discover and effectively communicate this deeper purpose to your team, and do so consistently.