Profession and vocation: How decision-makers successfully combine the two

Career and vocation in harmony - ways to achieve a successful combination

For many decision-makers, the combination of profession and vocation is both a challenge and a goal worth striving for. The profession secures the material basis, the vocation gives the activity personal meaning and fulfilment. But how can the two areas be successfully combined? In today's article, we shed light on how career and vocation can be brought together in a meaningful way and which strategies help you to follow this path in your everyday professional life.

The difference between profession and vocation

Profession and vocation are two terms with different meanings that are often confused. Above all, a profession is an activity that is calculated for the long term and regularly practised as a livelihood. It thus fulfils the functional task of earning an income and securing a livelihood. A vocation, on the other hand, is an inner drive, an activity that gives pleasure and meaning. While the profession is often chosen pragmatically, the vocation symbolises personal destiny.

An important point here is that profession and vocation do not have to be mutually exclusive, but can complement and intensify each other. Decision-makers who successfully combine the two experience their work as both enriching and motivating.

How decision-makers successfully combine career and vocation

Managers and decision-makers often face the challenge of finding a balance between professional pressure and personal fulfilment. Some practical approaches help to merge career and vocation.

Firstly, it is important to consciously reflect on your own values and interests. Decision-makers who regularly take time to think about what is really important to them can make decisions that are aligned with their own inner compass.

Secondly, they should organise their field of activity in such a way that it offers scope for individual creativity and commitment. Even if certain tasks are mandatory, the freedom to organise everyday working life can strengthen identification with the profession and keep the vocation alive.

Last but not least, the ability to utilise delegation and accept support plays a central role. Decision-makers should concentrate on their core competences and relinquish activities that do not fulfil them or allow their profession and vocation to drift apart.

Best practice: Combining profession and vocation in practice

BEST PRACTICE at company XYZ (name changed due to NDA contract) One manager decided to develop an internal mentoring programme alongside his managerial role. This allowed him to combine his passion for personal development with his day-to-day work by supporting junior staff and passing on his knowledge. This combination made his job much more fulfilling and meaningful.

BEST PRACTICE at ABC (name changed due to NDA contract) A marketing manager set up a project for sustainable product development alongside her professional work. This task reflected her inner values and led her to identify more strongly with her company and at the same time feel more joy in her daily work.

BEST PRACTICE at an international recruitment consultancy (name changed due to NDA contract) A special workshop format was introduced there to help employees discover their individual vocation and align it with their own career. This not only led to greater motivation within the team, but also to innovative solutions and new business models within the company.

Tips for sustainable integration of career and vocation

In order to permanently combine career and vocation, continuous self-reflection combined with open dialogue in a professional environment is recommended. Regular discussions with mentors, coaches or colleagues can provide inspiration and open up new perspectives.

In addition, targeted further training in areas that you find meaningful and fulfilling can be a step towards greater identification with your own job. In times of digitalisation, flexible online formats that can be used anywhere and at any time are ideal.

It is also important that decision-makers learn to prioritise and respect personal boundaries. This makes it easier to maintain a balance between work and vocation and reduces stress.

Examples from various industries

An IT project manager who, in addition to managing software projects, brings his passion for environmental protection to a green IT initiative in order to combine his profession and vocation.

A teacher who, in addition to classroom management, initiates several creative projects that reflect her commitment to inclusive education and make her job more fulfilling.

A sales manager who incorporates his passion for prevention and employee well-being by setting up an in-house health programme in order to combine his profession with his vocation.

My analysis

Successfully combining career and vocation means creating a space in which pragmatic requirements and personal questions of meaning interact harmoniously. Decision-makers benefit from consciously coming to terms with their inner drives and shaping their career in such a way that it reflects their vocation. This requires courage, reflection and an active organisation of everyday working life.

The examples from practice show that this path is not a rarity, but remains achievable with structured methods and targeted support. In this way, career and vocation can form a productive and fulfilling combination that increases both personal motivation and the quality of work.

Further links from the text above:

[1] Profession vs vocation: these are the differences

[4] From profession to vocation

[5] Professions in digitalisation - SEO Manager

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