From everyday professional life to personal fulfilment
The distinction between profession and vocation is a central question for many people in their professional lives. While a profession is often defined by its pragmatic function of securing a livelihood, many people believe that a vocation goes deeper. It combines personal values, interests and talents into an activity that is experienced as meaningful and fulfilling. Ideally, profession and vocation can come together, whereby people not only pursue an activity, but also perform a task with passion.
Profession and vocation: key differences and opportunities
A job is often characterised by clear framework conditions such as tasks, working hours and salary. It is often predetermined by training or qualifications and serves to secure a livelihood. A vocation, on the other hand, is characterised by an inner drive that is not solely based on external factors such as earnings or status. A vocation is usually emotionally charged, it fulfils the need for meaning and personal development.
Many decision-makers face the challenge of combining their profession and vocation. They often initially pursue a career that does not fully match their inner motivation. However, a conscious examination of one's own values and talents can provide impetus to organise one's work more profoundly or change perspectives.
Profession and vocation in practice: examples from various industries
BEST PRACTICE at company XYZ (name changed due to NDA contract) In a medium-sized technology company, a senior developer discovered his calling through coaching to create innovative processes for sustainable developments. Although the job was clearly in the field of software development, the targeted focus on ecological issues enabled him to organise his work content in a more personally fulfilling way.
BEST PRACTICE at ABC (name changed due to NDA contract) In the field of digital marketing, a manager decided to pursue her vocation after years in traditional agency roles by focussing on projects that support social innovation. Today, she combines her professional skills with a meaningful activity that makes her work more valuable.
BEST PRACTICE at a management consultancy (name changed due to NDA contract) A consultant originally started out with a focus on classic strategy development, but recognised his passion for change management and cultural change. Through targeted further training, he was able to specialise in this area and now experiences his day-to-day work as a vocation.
How decision-makers find true fulfilment in their profession and vocation
The path from career to vocation is not always straightforward. It requires a reflective attitude towards one's own work situation and the willingness to initiate change. It is particularly important for managers and decision-makers to recognise and react to impulses, as they also shape the corporate culture through their attitude.
One helpful method is to regularly take time for self-reflection in order to compare your own motivations and values with your professional roles. Exchanges with coaches or experienced mentors also offer valuable perspectives that can inspire professional reorientation. Key questions include: "Which activities really fulfil me?" or "How can I use my strengths more effectively in my job?"
Concrete impulses for professional support
Coaching can have a supportive effect in professional and life phases that are characterised by uncertainty or the search for more meaning. The aim is not to provide quick solutions, but to support people in finding their own answers and recognising development opportunities. This support creates space for consciously shaping career paths and helps to harmonise career and vocation.
Practical support can mean, for example, developing individual strength profiles, activating resources for change processes or developing effective strategies for dealing with challenges. The interplay of targeted reflection and constructive support creates impulses that are often experienced as helpful.
The interplay of profession and vocation in the change process
The reality of many working people shows that career and vocation do not always fully coincide. Nevertheless, active organisation is possible. For example, a profession can also serve as a means of ensuring financial security, while a vocation can be lived as an honorary position or hobby. For many people, however, it is more fulfilling if their career is increasingly orientated towards their inner purpose.
This connection is dynamic and can change over the course of our lives. It is important to remain attentive and consciously accompany your own development. For decision-makers, this offers the opportunity to set a good example and promote a corporate culture in which meaningfulness and personal fulfilment are valued.
Examples from counselling and coaching
BEST PRACTICE in the service sector (name changed due to NDA contract) One manager used coaching to scrutinise stressful role models and align herself more closely with her personal passions. This helped her to shape her professional role more consciously and experience more energy and satisfaction.
BEST PRACTICE in trade (name changed due to NDA contract) A master craftsman began to complete further training alongside his job and focussed on sustainable craft techniques that corresponded to his convictions. This increased his sense of purpose in everyday life.
BEST PRACTICE in the IT industry (name changed due to NDA contract) Through targeted development support, an IT project manager discovered how he could combine his technical expertise with his enthusiasm for team leadership - a combination he experienced as his calling.
My analysis
Profession and vocation as two sides of professional life provide impetus for consciously shaping one's own career. For decision-makers in particular, it is helpful not only to focus on external success parameters, but also to include inner fulfilment and questions of meaning. In this way, sustainable and motivating working environments can be created that strengthen people in their potential and promote development.
Further links from the text above:
[1] Profession vs vocation: these are the differences - RUHR24JOBS
[4] From profession to vocation - three letters that make the difference ...
Legal notice: Coaching does not replace therapy. It serves personal development. I do not diagnose or promise a cure. My offer is for personal development and is not a substitute for medical, psychotherapeutic or curative treatment. Please consult a medically qualified specialist if you have any health complaints. The experiences described here are based on individual feedback from my clients. They are not a guarantee of success and do not replace medical or therapeutic counselling. For more information and if you have any questions, please contact Contact us on the topic or read further blog posts on the Topic here.
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