Behind every effort at improving workplace well-being is a theory of work, i.e., what is the main explanation for the relationship between our work and ourselves? For example, the explanation that we work in order to provide the means to sustain our body and physical health is a physical theory of work. Similarly, the explanation that we work in order to make money to support our general needs is a monetary theory of work. An explanation that we work in order to advance our career or professional recognition is a theory of work that focuses on our professional ambition.

The theory of work described in the beingful approach is that we work in order to fulfil our whole being, thereby enabling holistic well-being.  We can call it the theory of fulfilment of being. In return for this fulfilment, we give our capabilities related to our whole being in order for the organisation to fulfil its goals. This implicit quid pro quo behind what we give and what we get is a far broader conception of why we work than the physical, monetary, ambition, psychological, social or other more limited theories of work.

In this approach, the central concept that connects us and our work to the fulfilment of our being is beingful work.  It is the extent to which our actual experience of work is fulfilling for our whole being. Seen in this way, workplaces are opportunities for enabling employees to bring their whole being to work, thereby enabling them to engage fully and give their best to the organisation.

The ideal workplace is therefore one where work fulfils all the aspects of whole being of employees, including their health and physical well-being, their energy, ambition, intellect, personality, emotions and feelings, sense of freedom, collaboration, service, desire for societal impact, connection to nature, ability to do the right thing, and also their spirituality.

While this is indeed a tall order for any workplace, and possibly impossible to attain, it is nevertheless a goal to be pursued. By measuring how beingful our work is, we will therefore measure the extent to which such a whole-being fulfilment is taking place.