A dominant idea within business schools and HR departments throughout America is job fit theory, which posits that professionals are more likely to succeed when there is alignment between one’s passion and vocation. Remember, a theory – in an academic context – is not an opinion. Rather, it is a scientific attempt to explain a phenomenon. There is a lot of evidence to support job fit theory, which is why it’s accepted by so many.
But what if a person starts a job for which he/she has no real passion? Does this doom that person to an unrewarding career? Not at all. It is possible to learn to love any work. This phenomenon is studied under a framework known as develop theory. The general idea behind this model: Anyone can learn to enjoy their career. This is something you can communicate to disengaged employees.
It’s important to note that each person brings different values and experiences into the workforce. Some people simply don’t know what their professional passion is yet, or where to look for it. They are not necessarily looking for love and/or passion for a career…but they can find it.
Reference:
- Chen, P. C. et al. (2015). Finding a Fit or Developing It: Implicit Theories About Achieving Passion for Work. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.
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