In our previous posts, we explored the key antecedents of flow:
- Task variety
- Autonomy
- Job feedback
- Task identity
We have come to the final flow factor. (A quick reminder…Flow is the state of deep engagement where work feels both fulfilling and effortless.)
- Task significance
What is Task Significance?
Task significance refers to the degree to which your work impacts the lives of others, making it meaningful and rewarding. When we can see how our contributions have a positive impact, we are more likely to feel motivated, engaged, and aligned with your purpose.
Feeling that our work has meaning is crucial for sustaining happiness, reducing burnout, and achieving flow. Here’s how you can cultivate a sense of task significance in your work:
Reframe Your Perspective
Identify how your work contributes to the world. For example, how does your work contribute to the success of your clients? The success of the organization for which you work? An SLP might recognize that improving a student’s communication skills enables them to connect with peers, succeed in the classroom, and build independence.
Seek Direct Feedback
Ask colleagues, parents, or students how your work has made a difference. Hearing these stories can be deeply motivating. A teacher might share how you helped him or her to understand how to use dynamic display AAC and now those students have gained trials throughout the day when they are not in their speech session!
Connect with Beneficiaries
Build relationships with those directly impacted by your work. A valuable application of this could be getting to know students and their families.
This involvement is a key factor within evidence-based practice. You may also learn information that accelerates making progress. For example, you may learn of a student’s favorite hobby or interests and make your interventions more meaningful and personalized. This is a research-backed technique for increasing engagement and progress.
Set Purposeful Goals
Align your daily tasks with broader outcomes that matter to you. For example, instead of viewing therapy sessions as isolated activities, consider how each session contributes to long-term goals like improved social skills or academic success.
Celebrate Big and Small Wins
Recognize milestones in your work to reinforce its impact.
Celebrate when you successfully implement a new strategy. Celebrate when a student uses a communication device independently or greets a classmate for the first time. Celebrate when you make a tough IEP deadline. Celebrate when you hold the first caregiver training of the year.
Many more ideas are available in our prior post on celebrating your profession.
Advocate for Your Role
Share the significance of your work with others to enhance understanding and collaboration. For example, present at staff meetings about how speech therapy supports inclusion and student success, helping your peers appreciate your contributions. Check out our course “Your National Speech-Language-Hearing Event Action Planning Assistant” for a variety of ideas for advocating as well as guidance for planning advocacy.