Job Crafting and Growth Mindset: Finding Meaning at Work | Melbourne Psychologists
- phoebelau
- Sep 14
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 14
Many people come to therapy feeling stuck, uninspired, or even resentful about their jobs. Maybe you’ve caught yourself thinking, “Is this all there is?” or “I want to feel like my work matters.” Finding satisfaction at work doesn’t always mean quitting your job or landing your “dream role.” Sometimes, meaning comes from shaping the role you already have—and that’s where job crafting and a growth mindset come in.
What Is Job Crafting?
Job crafting is a concept introduced by Yale University researcher Amy Wrzesniewski and colleagues (Wrzesniewski & Dutton, 2001). It involves actively shaping your role to make it more engaging and aligned with your values. Researchers Wrzesniewski & Dutton (2001) identified three key ways employees can craft their jobs:
Task crafting – Adjusting the what of your work. This might mean spending more time on tasks you enjoy or finding new ways to do routine tasks.
Relational crafting – Shaping who you interact with. Building connections with colleagues, clients, or teams that energise you can change how your day feels.
Cognitive crafting – Reframing how you see your role. Instead of seeing your job as “just admin” or “just cleaning,” you might see yourself as contributing to a larger purpose.
Type of Job Crafting | What It Involves | Example in Action |
Task Crafting | Changing the what of your work by adding, dropping, or redesigning tasks | A customer service rep spends more time on problem-solving tasks they enjoy and streamlines routine admin |
Relational Crafting | Changing the who you interact with to foster supportive and energising relationships | A nurse makes time to connect with patients’ families to improve care and their own sense of purpose |
Cognitive Crafting | Changing the how you think about your work by reframing its purpose and impact | A hospital cleaner sees their role as contributing to patient healing, not just cleaning rooms |
The original Yale study looked at hospital cleaners. Some saw themselves simply as janitors. Others crafted their jobs: they formed relationships with patients, helped families feel welcome, and reframed their work as part of the healing process. These small shifts led to higher engagement, pride, and meaning at work.
Why Job Crafting Works
Job crafting helps you align your daily tasks with your personal values. When your work connects to something you care about—like helping others, creating order, solving problems, or learning—you’re more likely to feel fulfilled.
Research shows job crafting can lead to:
Increased job satisfaction and engagement (Berg, Dutton & Wrzesniewski, 2013)
Stronger workplace identity and purpose
More resilience against burnout
In short, it turns work from “just a job” into “my role in something meaningful.”
Pairing Job Crafting with a Growth Mindset
Wrzesniewski’s more recent research suggests that job crafting works best when combined with a growth mindset—the belief that your abilities and skills can develop over time.
In a 2022 study at a large tech company, employees who practiced both job crafting and self‑growth reflection reported the highest increases in happiness and engagement at work. They made bigger, more sustainable changes compared to those who focused on job tasks alone (Yale School of Management, 2022).
Together, job crafting and a growth mindset allow you to:
See your current role as a springboard for learning and growth
Spot opportunities to stretch your skills or take on new challenges
Feel more agency over your career path
Practical Ways to Start Job Crafting
Reflect on your values. Identify what matters most to you—creativity, teamwork, helping others, learning, or autonomy.
Audit your tasks. Which tasks drain you? Which energise you? Can you adjust your time or approach?
Build meaningful connections. Spend time with people who inspire, support, or challenge you.
Reframe your mindset. Connect your role to the bigger picture. Ask, “Who benefits from the work I do?”
Embrace growth. Seek out learning opportunities or small challenges that align with your strengths and future goals.
How Our Melbourne Psychologists Can Help
Sometimes, seeing new possibilities in your current role isn’t easy—especially if stress, burnout, or self‑doubt is in the way. Our Melbourne Clinical Psychologists can help you:
Clarify your personal and professional values
Identify the small shifts that could bring more meaning to your work
Develop a growth mindset and coping strategies to sustain those changes
We’ve developed an online course to help you strengthen your growth mindset. It’s about learning to see new possibilities and create more fulfilment in your existing job.
Take the Next Step
If you’re ready to feel more fulfilled in your career, we can help. Book a session with one of our Melbourne Psychologists at The Inner Collective today and start shaping a work life that feels aligned with who you are.
References:
Wrzesniewski, A., & Dutton, J. E. (2001). Crafting a job: Revisioning employees as active crafters of their work. Academy of Management Review, 26(2), 179–201.
Berg, J. M., Dutton, J. E., & Wrzesniewski, A. (2013). Job crafting and meaningful work. In B. J. Dik et al. (Eds.), Purpose and Meaning in the Workplace (pp. 81–104). American Psychological Association.
Yale School of Management (2022). To Be Happier at Work, Think Flexibly About Your Job—and Yourself. Link
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