Ep 197: Making work meaningful with Angela Rixon

Ep 197: Making work meaningful with Angela Rixon

From Influence & Impact for Leaders by Carla Miller

January 5, 2026 · 39 min · Episode 197

About this episode

Carla Miller and Angela Rixon discuss the importance of meaningful work and practical steps to create it in the workplace.

Many people find themselves in roles that look great on paper but feel misaligned or unfulfilling in reality. In this week’s episode I’m joined by Angela Rixon, founder of The Centre for Meaningful Work and author of Meaning Over Purpose to explore what meaningful work really is, why so many of us lack it, and how both individuals and leaders can create more meaning at work day-to-day. Angela shares the five pillars of meaningful work—from autonomy to impact—and we dive into simple, practical steps you can take if you’ve fallen out of love with your role. We also look at the powerful role managers play in helping others find meaning, and how meaning can protect us from burnout when it’s balanced in a healthy way. We talk about: • What meaning is and how it differs from purpose • The five pillars of meaningful work • Practical ways to create more meaning in your current role • How leaders can build meaning within their teams • Why meaning boosts engagement—and how it can sometimes lead to burnout • A powerful real-life example of how autonomy transformed performance This is Influence & Impact for Leaders, the podcast that helps leaders like you increase your impact and build a…

People in this episode

Host: Carla

Guest: Angela Rixon

Topics covered

  • meaningful work
  • engagement
  • leadership
  • burnout
  • autonomy
  • impact

Keywords

  • five pillars of meaningful work
  • practical steps
  • manager's role
  • boosting engagement

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Meaning Over Purpose

Books & works: Meaning Over Purpose, Meaning Over Purpose: The CEO’s Strategic Blueprint for Growth and Lasting Engagement, Own Your Meaning

Places: London

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