About this episode

Penny Zenker and Joshua M. Evans discuss the true meaning of purpose at work and how to foster meaningful connections in the workplace.

What does purpose at work really mean—and why are so many people getting it wrong? In this powerful episode of Time to Reset, Penny Zenker sits down with bestselling author and workplace behavior expert Joshua M. Evans to challenge conventional thinking around purpose, engagement, and fulfillment in today’s workplace. Together, they unpack why modern work culture has “cheapened” the idea of purpose—and how shallow definitions of success, roles, and productivity are driving disengagement across organizations. With nearly 80% of employees feeling disconnected, this conversation dives deep into what’s missing and how leaders can create meaningful human connection at work. Joshua shares compelling real-world stories—from an Uber driver driven by a personal mission to the hidden emotional impact behind everyday jobs—to illustrate how any role can become purposeful when viewed through the lens of impact rather than tasks. You’ll discover: Why defining work by roles and KPIs leads to disengagement The difference between transactional work and meaningful contribution How to create deeper emotional connection within teams and organizations Why “human resources” thinking may be hurting…

People in this episode

Host: Penny Zenker

Guest: Joshua M. Evans

Topics covered

• purpose at work
• employee engagement
• work culture
• meaningful contribution
• leadership
• human connection

Keywords

• purpose
• engagement
• work culture
• disconnection
• leadership
• emotional connection
• productivity

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Uber

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