What if we’ve been approaching employee satisfaction all wrong? The real secret to unlocking team performance isn’t happiness or perks—it’s meaningful work. Luckily, simple leadership practices can transform average teams into exceptional ones.

Tamara Myles and Wes Adams join the podcast to discuss their new book, “Meaningful Work: How to Ignite Passion and Performance in Every Employee.” As researchers and consultants working with organizations from Fortune 500s to scaling companies, they’ve uncovered the science behind what makes work truly fulfilling.

In this thought-provoking conversation, Tamara and Wes break down the three C’s of meaningful work: Community, Contribution, and Challenge. They explain why purpose alone isn’t enough and debunk the myth that only younger generations care about finding meaning at work.

Their research shows that meaningful work drives tangible business outcomes—from productivity and innovation to stock market performance. Most importantly, they provide practical strategies that middle managers can implement immediately, even without organizational support.

Whether you’re leading a team of two or twenty, the strategies in this episode will help you create an environment where employees bring their best selves to work. By focusing on community, contribution, and challenge, you’ll not only boost performance metrics but transform your leadership impact.

Key Highlights

• The three C’s of meaningful work: Community (feeling connected), Contribution (making an impact), and Challenge (opportunities to grow)
• Meaningful work is NOT the same as purpose—purpose is just one component
• One thank-you per week from a manager can cut disengagement and burnout in half
• Creating community requires intentionally making space for personal connections
• The BEST feedback model: Behavioral, Explicit, Strengths-based, and Timely
• Avoid the “sandwich feedback”—it confuses the message and diminishes impact
• The “zone of possibility” combines high expectations with high support
• Quick win: Ask what’s happening in your team members’ lives and truly listen to their answers
• Balance autonomy with clear values to help employees make good decisions

Links Mentioned

• https://www.makeworkmeaningful.com/
• Meaningful Work: How to Ignite Passion and Performance in Every Employee (book)
• The BEST feedback model: www.makeworkmeaningful.com/resources
• The Made Leader Community

Guest Bios

Tamara Myles is a speaker, author, professor, and entrepreneur specializing in the science of human flourishing at work. She helps leaders and organizations like Microsoft, KPMG, and MassMutual unlock the power of meaningful work to drive peak performance, innovation, and resilience. A faculty member at Boston College and a researcher and instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, Tamara’s work challenges assumptions about work, showing that when leaders make work meaningful, they create thriving teams and lasting impact. She lives in Concord, Massachusetts. 

Wes Adams is the CEO of SV Consulting Group, partnering with Fortune 500s and scaling companies to develop high-impact leaders and design operating structures that support high-performing teams. He’s also a positive psychology researcher at the University of Pennsylvania studying leadership practices that help employees thrive. He lives in Atlanta, GA.