Studies often reveal a link between a sense of purpose and high performance.

The individuals who are most productive tend to be those who are finding purpose in their day-to-day work.

How do you quantify something as nebulous as “finding purpose at work?”

Researchers recently asked thousands of workers this question, and the feedback was surprisingly simple. Here are the top two answers:

I feel a sense of purpose at work when I’m regularly accomplishing tasks.

I feel a sense of purpose at work when I’m creating value for my company/employer.

These down-to-earth responses beat out more esoteric replies such as doing work I’m passionate about, doing work that adds meaning to my life, and doing work relevant to the community.

When building a team, focus on the basics of defining tasks and demonstrating how those tasks contribute to the end goal.

When recruiting to your team, highlight how focused and engaged your existing agents are in their day-to-day tasks.