A study of military officers found that those with a strong sense of calling were less likely to perceive their careers as stalled. This deep connection to their work fosters resilience and organizational commitment, even in the absence of traditional upward progression.
The flip side of passion is that employees with a strong calling can be tough colleagues. Their intense commitment can manifest as hyper-criticism towards leaders, coworkers, and decisions that conflict with their personal vision, leading to strained team dynamics.
The concept of a "calling" originated from religious vocations. Its application to secular work is a recent phenomenon, gaining traction with the rise of knowledge work in the 80s and 90s and peaking in the early 2000s, shifting the focus from divine service to personal fulfillment.
Employees who view their work as a calling are more willing to accept lower pay and make financial sacrifices. This passion makes them susceptible to exploitation, as organizations can implicitly substitute the promise of meaningful work for fair compensation and sustainable working conditions.
People with a strong calling don't just work harder out of sheer will. Research indicates the primary mechanism is increased enjoyment of the work itself. This positive feeling directly translates into greater effort on relevant tasks, supporting the "love what you do" axiom.
The intense search for a career "calling" has become psychologically parallel to the search for a romantic soulmate. Both are driven by a "don't settle" mindset and create impossibly high expectations, often leading to disappointment and strained relationships when reality doesn't match the ideal.
Individuals with a powerful sense of calling often develop an overinflated view of their own talent. This "career tunnel vision" makes them resistant to discouraging feedback, even from trusted mentors, causing them to pursue high-risk career paths without objective assessment.