Summary	5
	Foreword	6
	References	8
	Acknowledgments	10
	Contents	12
	Chapter 1: Introduction: Man’s Search for Meaning – More Current Than Ever	20
	Chapter 2: The Image of Humans in Search for Meaning	26
	2.1 Meaning: Wanting or Waiting?	27
	2.2 Meaning Motivation	29
	2.3 Meaning Beyond Functional Aspects	29
	2.4 Ultimate Concerns	30
	2.4.1 “Where Do We Come From?”	31
	2.4.2 “What Are We?”	31
	2.4.3 “Where Are We Going?”	32
	2.5 Ultimate Meaning	33
	2.6 Implications of the Discussion for Meaning and Work: Interim Conclusions	33
	References	36
	Chapter 3: Searching and Finding Meaning: Viktor Frankl’s Approach	37
	3.1 Will to Meaning	38
	3.2 Meaning of Life	39
	3.3 Freedom of Will and Responsibility to Act on It	40
	3.4 Values: The Human Condition	41
	3.5 Givers and Takers	42
	3.6 Conscience: What Is “Right”? What Is “Wrong”?	42
	3.7 The Tragic Triad	43
	3.8 Existential Analysis	44
	3.8.1 Unfolding the Nature of Our Personal Being	45
	3.8.2 Existential Analysis in Practice	46
	3.9 The Three Dimensions of Human Existence	48
	3.10 The Spiritual Dimension	49
	3.10.1 A Matter of Clean Language: Definitions of Religion, Religiousness, Spirituality, Mind, and Existential	52
	3.10.1.1 Geist, Mind, Spirit, and Spirituality	52
	3.10.1.2 Existential	54
	3.10.1.3 Religion	54
	3.10.2 International Guidelines Regarding Experts’ Dealing with Spiritual Issues	55
	3.11 Addressing Religion: The Pivotal Question	56
	3.11.1 Religion and Spirituality	57
	3.11.2 What Kind of “Ministry”: Frankl’s Approach on Religion	58
	3.11.3 “A World Void of Intrinsic Meaning…”	59
	3.11.4 Religion and Well-Being: Some Research Data	61
	3.12 Addressing Spirituality in the Workplace	62
	3.12.1 Spirituality Cannot Be Bought or Implemented	64
	3.12.2 Critical Considerations	65
	3.13 Implications of Frankl’s Three-Dimensional Approach for Today’s Workplaces	66
	References	68
	Chapter 4: What Is Man?	71
	4.1 Neutrality Is Not Indifference	72
	4.2 Ethical Standards Relating to Coaching and Counseling Experts’ Activities	73
	4.3 Humanism	74
	4.4 Taking Responsibility	75
	4.5 Unprecedented Ethical Challenges	76
	4.6 Homo Deus? An Existential Crisis of Humankind	77
	4.6.1 Homo Deus or Free Will	77
	4.6.2 New Sciences: “Nothing but Algorithms” – Twenty-First Century’s Reductionism	78
	4.7 Human Reasoning	79
	4.7.1 Taking an Attitude	81
	4.7.2 The Hybris of Dataism	81
	4.8 The Ontological Differences and the Anthropological Unity of Man	82
	4.9 What Makes Us Human?	82
	4.10 Three Human Conditions	83
	4.10.1 Animal Laborans or Homo Faber?	83
	4.10.2 Homo Amans	85
	4.10.3 Homo Patiens	86
	4.11 Conclusions	88
	References	88
	Chapter 5: Twenty-First-Century Meaning Challenges of Work	90
	5.1 Megatrends Shaping our Future	90
	5.2 Global Societal Challenges	90
	5.3 Work Life in a VUCA World	91
	5.4 Four Western World Challenges	91
	5.5 Diagnosing the Twenty-First-Century Gap	92
	References	94
	Chapter 6: Meaning in the Twenty-First-Century Workplaces	95
	6.1 Work: A Potential Source of Meaning	95
	6.2 Employed and Unemployed	96
	6.3 The Janus Face of Today’s Workplaces	96
	6.4 Homo Economicus: Powerful Reductionism	98
	6.5 Self-Actualization, Pleasure, and Self-Optimization	98
	References	99
	Chapter 7: A Two-Dimensional Approach	100
	7.1 Reconciling Two Dimensions in the Human Being	100
	7.2 Freedom and Responsibility in Work	102
	References	102
	Chapter 8: The Twenty-First Century Cry for Meaning	103
	8.1 Mental Health in the Workplace: The Greatest Challenge of the Twenty-First Century	104
	8.2 Facing the Existential Vacuum of Our Times	104
	8.3 The Four Collective Maladies of Our Times	105
	8.3.1 An Ephemeral Attitude Toward Life	106
	8.3.2 A Fatalist Attitude Toward Life	106
	8.3.3 Conformist or Collectivist Thinking	106
	8.3.4 Fanaticism	106
	8.4 Continuous Stress	107
	8.4.1 Different Types of Stress	107
	8.4.1.1 Negative Stress	108
	8.4.1.2 Chronic Stress	108
	8.4.2 Health Effects of Stress	108
	8.4.3 Prevalence of Stress, Anxiety, and Irritability in EU 27 States by Sector	109
	8.5 Emerging Risks	110
	8.6 Undeniable Suffering	110
	8.6.1 Selected Mental Health Data	110
	8.6.2 Suicide	112
	8.7 Brain-Based Economy	113
	8.7.1 The Five Brain Chains	113
	8.7.2 The Great Convergence	114
	8.7.3 Giving Brainy Answers	114
	References	114
	Chapter 9: Man, as He Is	116
	9.1 The Self	117
	9.1.1 Self-Detachment and Self-Awareness	118
	9.1.2 Self-Acceptance	118
	9.1.3 Self-Efficacy	119
	9.1.4 Self-Esteem	119
	9.1.5 Self-Determination and Autonomy	119
	9.1.6 Self-Actualization	120
	9.1.7 The Limitations of the Self-Concept	121
	9.1.8 The Self-Focus of Increased Management Attention	121
	9.2 Sense of Coherence	121
	9.3 Self-Care	122
	9.4 Competence, Calling, and Autonomy in the Workplace	123
	9.4.1 The Sense of Calling	124
	9.4.2 The Path to Purpose	125
	9.4.3 Living the Calling	126
	9.5 Motivation	126
	9.5.1 Intrinsic Motivation: The Inherent Given	126
	9.5.2 We Are All Intrinsically Motivated	127
	9.5.3 Suggesting a Reconciliation of Two Motivational Theories	128
	9.6 Building Resilience	130
	9.6.1 Inner Strengths Comprising Resilience	131
	9.6.2 Resiliency Strategies	132
	9.7 Empathy and Compassion	133
	9.7.1 Empathy	133
	9.7.2 Compassion	133
	9.8 Self-Transcendence	134
	References	138
	Chapter 10: The Inherent Demand Quality of Present Work Life	140
	10.1 Intermediate Bottom Line	141
	10.2 Making the Case for Promoting Well-Being and Health in the Workplace	143
	10.3 Three Levels of Health Interventions	145
	10.3.1 First-Level Prevention	145
	10.3.1.1 Individual Protective and Risk Factors	146
	10.3.1.2 Protective Factors for Staff Health and Well-Being	146
	10.3.1.3 Individual Risk Factors	146
	10.3.2 Second-Level Prevention	147
	10.3.3 Third-Level Prevention	147
	10.4 Awareness Raising and Training in the Workplace	147
	10.5 Integrated Health Management Approaches	148
	10.5.1 European Council Directives	148
	10.5.2 The Luxembourg Declaration on Workplace Health Promotion	149
	10.5.3 European Network for Workplace Health Promotion (ENWHP)	149
	10.5.4 The ProMenPol Project	149
	10.5.5 Standards Council of Canada	150
	10.6 Conclusions	150
	References	150
	Chapter 11: Initiating the Copernican Turn: Answering the “What for”	152
	11.1 The What for: The Meaning of It All	152
	11.2 Meaningful Work	154
	11.3 Meaning in Work: A Means or an End	155
	11.3.1 Meaning as an End	155
	11.3.2 Meaning as a Means: The Potential Dark Sides of Man’s Search for Meaning	156
	11.4 The Human Need for Freedom	158
	References	159
	Chapter 12: Toward a Meaningful, Integrated Approach: We Reap What We Sow	160
	12.1 Appreciative Inquiry	160
	12.2 Positive Psychology and Finding Meaning in Work	161
	12.3 The Concept of Good Business	162
	12.4 Unchaining the Brain Chains: The Attitude Taken	162
	References	163
	Chapter 13: Igniting the Spark in Every Person	164
	13.1 Theory U	164
	13.2 Givers and Takers	165
	13.3 The Diamond in the Rough	167
	13.4 Reinventing Organizations	167
	13.4.1 An Evolutionary Approach to Humanity	168
	13.4.2 From Scarcity to Abundance	169
	13.4.3 Five Stages of Human Development: Breakthroughs in Human Consciousness	170
	13.5 Core Human Strengths	172
	13.6 A Leap in Meaningful Work	173
	13.6.1 Success Ensues	173
	13.6.2 Structures, Practices, and Cultures of Pioneer Organizations	174
	References	174
	Chapter 14: New Work: New Culture	175
	14.1 New Work Best Practices	177
	14.1.1 Wala Heilmittel GmbH	178
	14.1.2 Augenhoehe: Reinventing Organizations “On an Equal Footing”	179
	14.1.2.1 Searching for Fair Relationships and Cooperation	179
	14.1.2.2 Unfreezing Potentials on Eye Level	179
	14.1.3 Resourceful Humans and Human Resources	180
	14.1.4 Fair Finance: Sustainable Banking	181
	14.2 Meeting Staff Members’ Needs	182
	References	182
	Chapter 15: Values: A “New Surge of Responsibleness” Arising	184
	15.1 Character Strengths and Virtues	185
	15.2 Good Work: When Meaning, Responsibility, and Conscience Meet	189
	15.2.1 The Three E’s	189
	15.2.2 The Three M’s	190
	15.3 Prosocial Impact of Work and Meaningful Occupations	191
	15.4 Meaningful Organizations: Organizational Character	192
	References	193
	Chapter 16: Leadership: Taking Responsibility	195
	16.1 Addressing the Diamond in the Rough	195
	16.1.1 Being Directed to Someone Other Than the Self	196
	16.1.2 Igniting Engagement	197
	16.1.3 Entering the Realm of Freedom	198
	16.2 Transformational Leadership: Overcoming Self-Interest	199
	16.3 When People Identify with a Purpose Greater Than Themselves	201
	16.4 The Culture You Create or the Culture You Destroy	203
	16.5 Manifesting the Human Spirit: Exercising Meaningful Leadership	205
	16.6 The Conductor as a Musical Collaborator	206
	16.7 Integrity and Character-Based Leadership	208
	16.8 Leading from Who You Are	209
	16.9 Leading Abundant Organizations	209
	16.10 Life’s Entrepreneur: From Know-How to Know Why	211
	16.11 Being Whole: Addressing Mind, Body, and Soul	212
	16.12 An Awareness-Based Global Leadership Platform: Creating Transformative Change	214
	16.12.1 Spaces of Global Leadership Learning	214
	16.12.2 Open Mind, Open Heart, and Open Will	215
	16.13 Leading: “The Revolution Has Begun”	215
	References	217
	Chapter 17: The Human Potentials	219
	17.1 The Art of Practice: Taking the Klimt Perspective	219
	17.2 The Good Life: The Courage to Be	222
	17.3 From Abundance to Gratitude and Giving	223
	17.4 Building a Culture of Purpose	223
	17.5 Human Dignity: A Transition Unfolding	226
	17.5.1 The Dignity Economy	226
	17.5.2 Enhancing Dignity in Various Branches	227
	References	228
	Chapter 18: Meaning, Work, and Well-Being: Empirical Findings	230
	18.1 Assessment of Meaning	230
	18.2 Empirical Findings of Meaning Fulfillment	233
	18.3 Meaning and Work	235
	18.4 Existential Approaches and Findings	237
	18.5 Linking Existential Fulfillment to Work Load and Work Engagement	238
	18.6 The Difference Between “Why?” and “What For?”	240
	18.7 Meaning Awareness and Storytelling	240
	18.8 A Work of Service for Others	241
	18.9 Meaning Awareness and Sources of Meaning	241
	18.10 Work: A Broader Transcendent Life Purpose	242
	18.11 The Future of Empirical Meaning Research	244
	18.12 Discussion: Limitations of Empirical Research on Meaning	245
	References	249
	Chapter 19: The Human Capacity: Current Approaches in Humanities	252
	19.1 New Findings in Neuroscience	252
	19.2 Mirror Neurons	253
	19.3 Investing in Caring Economics	253
	19.4 The Neuroplasticity of Our Brain	254
	19.4.1 The Co-construction of Identity and Meaning	255
	References	255
	Chapter 20: Meaning-Focused Approaches in Coaching, Counseling, and Psychotherapy	256
	20.1 Coaching and Social Counseling Services in the Workplace	257
	20.1.1 Coaching Services	258
	20.1.2 Social Counseling Services	260
	20.1.3 Differences Between Coaching and Counseling Services	264
	20.2 Existential Counseling and Coaching	266
	20.2.1 The Four Worlds of Existence	266
	20.2.2 Addressing Meaning in Workplace Services	267
	20.2.3 Existential Analysis of Workplace Issues	269
	20.2.3.1 Will to Meaning	271
	20.2.3.2 Freedom of Will	271
	20.2.3.3 Meaning of Life	272
	20.3 Interventions in Workplace Counseling and Coaching: An Integrated Approach	273
	20.3.1 Standard and Logotherapeutic Interventions	274
	20.3.2 Impact and Outcomes of Workplace Counseling and Coaching	275
	20.3.2.1 General Outcomes	275
	20.3.2.2 Evaluation of Meaning-Oriented Counseling in the Workplace	277
	20.4 Discussion	279
	20.5 Psychotherapeutic Approaches	280
	20.5.1 Third Wave Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)	280
	20.5.2 Acceptance and Commitment Treatment (ACT)	280
	20.5.3 Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy	280
	20.5.4 Systemic Approaches	281
	20.5.5 Hypnosystemic Concepts	281
	20.5.6 Brief, Solution-Focused Approach	282
	20.5.7 Strengthening Mindfulness	282
	20.5.8 MBSR Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction	283
	20.5.9 Potentials and Pitfalls of the Mindfulness Movement	284
	20.5.10 Positive Psychology Therapy PPT	284
	20.5.11 Conclusions	286
	References	286
	Chapter 21: The Return of Philosophy to Every Day Life: Potentials for the Twenty-First-Century Renaissance	288
	21.1 Existential Philosophy and Existentialism	289
	21.2 The Rediscovery of Ancient Philosophy	292
	21.3 Eudaimonia: Happiness Through Living Virtues	293
	21.4 Plato’s Concept of “Psyche”	295
	21.5 Aristotle’s Approach: The Good Life	296
	21.6 Stoicism	296
	21.7 Michel Foucault’s Radical Demand for Care for the Self	297
	21.8 Self-Care, Self-Cult, and Self-Addiction: Differences	298
	21.9 Exercising Care for the Self	299
	References	300
	Chapter 22: Optimism in the Face of Adversity	301
	22.1 Frankl’s Concept of Tragic Optimism	301
	22.2 MCCT: A Holistic, Meaning-Centered Approach	302
	References	304
	Chapter 23: A Meaning-Centered Integrated Approach: Viktor Frankl’s Legacy for Twenty-First-­Century Meaningful Work	305
	23.1 Work and Life: A Difficult Relationship	305
	23.2 Meaning and Work: A Means or an End?	307
	23.2.1 Meaning as an End of Being	307
	23.2.2 Existential Analysis of the Individual Work Life	309
	23.2.3 Meaning: A Terminal Value	310
	23.3 Meaning in Work: Situational Values	310
	23.3.1 Creative Meaning Values in Work	310
	23.3.2 Experiential Meaning Values in Work	311
	23.3.3 Attitudinal Meaning Values in Work	313
	23.4 Meaningful Work: A Means?	314
	23.5 Commonalities to Share	315
	23.6 Working Together for Finding Meaning in Today’s World	317
	References	320
	About the Author	321
	Index	322