The Power of Awe at Work

Resource Summary

An emerging body of evidence indicates that cultivating a “culture of awe” in the workplace can have significant individual and organizational benefits, including increasing workers’ sense of engagement, motivation, and job satisfaction. In response to this research, the Next Level Lab launched the Experiences of Awe at Work project in 2023 to more deeply investigate the nature and impact of awe experiences in workplace contexts. The project began with a general survey of 100 United States workers across a wide range of sectors. Subsequently, informed by the findings from this broad survey, we designed a study focused specifically on the awe experiences of individuals in the workforce development sector. This project involved a survey of over 100 workforce development professionals representing eight organizations in the sector as well as in-depth interviews with a small subset of participants, with the goal of identifying actionable recommendations based on the findings.

The survey found that most participants reported experiencing awe at work at least occasionally, and some much more frequently. The most commonly cited sources of awe were observing the actions or abilities of other individuals in one’s work context, the perceived meaningfulness of one’s work, and feeling a sense of professional growth or achievement. The primary outcomes of awe experiences identified by both survey and interview participants were an increase in intrinsic motivation and a sense of validation in one’s chosen career. To a lesser extent, survey participants also reported that some awe experiences led to a new understanding or perspective on one’s work. The findings point to the value of making growth and impact visible, prioritizing interpersonal connections, and inviting reflection on “a-ha” moments in the workplace.