The University of Michigan's Ross School of Business will host an event titled “Jerks Die Alone: How to Create a New World” on February 7, featuring Robert E. Quinn, professor emeritus of management and organizations. did. Quinn is the co-founder of Positive Organizational Scholarship and the Center for Positive Organizations, which focuses on changing negative thinking and finding purpose in the professional world.
Speaking about leadership in the workplace, Quinn said that the innate human desire to solve problems is a form of purpose in itself.
“The average person doesn't pay attention to excellence,” Quinn says. “Ordinary humans like you and me are trained to be problem solvers. This is a good thing because it justifies our existence. That’s what gives me value.”
Quinn emphasized the difference between motivation driven by ego and motivation driven by conscience, and said that people who are driven by conscience often have better life outcomes.
“Sometimes I am motivated by conscience,” Quinn said. “It's about moral acceptance of the highest purpose.[People who are driven by conscience]live longer lives, have fewer illnesses, have better relationships, and often even earn more money.” ”
Mr. Quinn then provided a step-by-step guide on how to create a meaningful purpose statement. He explains that this is a statement written to outline a specific purpose in life. He said people should strive to understand their deepest values in order to continually clarify their purpose statement.
“This statement transformed me from the secular world to the moral world,” Quinn said. “It's incredibly authentic and an expression of my soul. It's the arbiter of every decision I make.”
Monica Worline, faculty director of the Center for Positive Organizations, helped organize the event. In an interview with The Michigan Daily, Worline said she hopes the event will help students better understand their purpose.
“The main takeaway I want students to understand is that there are tools available to help all of us define our purpose in life, know our strengths, and live each day to the fullest with a sense of purpose. That's it,” Woline said. “The second point I want students to hear is that there is important interdisciplinary research that supports the health and well-being benefits of knowing and living your daily purpose.”
This webinar was part of a larger workshop run by Quinn that aims to help individuals create a more engaged workforce. In an interview with The Daily, second-year business administration student Peter Parlagreco shared his biggest takeaway from Quinn's workshop. It was part of the Prosperity Catalyst Support Program event at the Center for Positive Organizations, held the day before this webinar.
“I have learned that transformational leaders possess ideal influence, personal attention, inspirational motivation, and intellectual stimulation,” Parlagreco said. “Fundamentally, leaders have a keen understanding of their subordinates: what motivates them, how much to challenge them, and the potential for their organization to reach. can increase the sense of purpose in the organizations they lead.”
Daily staff reporters Priya Shah and Mira Sripada can be reached at: priyasha@umch.edu and msripada@umich.edu.
