The quest for meaning at work is a growing problem in modern companies. While unemployment drops and economic models are diversifying, a new crisis emerges: that of meaning. There are many employees and managers who question the authenticity of their commitment to a working environment often deemed disconnected from human and social values. Faced with this crisis, entrepreneurship is perceived by some as a solution. Create your own project, shape your own working environment, and give meaning to your actions seem to be potential levers to restore what many consider it lost. But is entrepreneurship really the answer to the crisis of meaning at work, or can it worse?
The crisis of meaning: an increasingly visible phenomenon
The quest for meaning at work is not a recent phenomenon. However, he has gained a particular magnitude in recent years, in particular with the emergence of remote work and new forms of organization. A 2023 study by the Montaigne Institute shows that 55 % of French people believe that their work lacks meaning. According to this same study, 62 % of the younger generations (those under 35) express a need to feel useful in their professional activity, beyond simple remuneration. Work, for many, is no longer just a simple financial necessity. He must now carry values, social utility, and a significant personal impact.
This quest for meaning has deep consequences. Another study carried out by OpinionWay on behalf of the Work Foundation otherwise highlights that 43 % of French employees declare that they are considering changing work or even a career because of the lack of meaning perceived in their professional environment. This phenomenon is particularly marked in large companies, where bureaucratic processes and organizational rigidity often hinder the capacity of employees to fully flourish in their work.
Thus, the crisis of meaning is a tangible reality which affects a large part of the active population, and in the face of this, entrepreneurship seems to appear as an exit door, making it possible to regain control of its professional trajectory and to give a goal to its actions.
Entrepreneurship: A response to the search for meaning?
Entrepreneurship, in essence, is an area that offers greater freedom. The idea of creating his own business allows the entrepreneur to define his own values, to choose the projects in which he believes and to act independently. Many business creators testify to their desire to give a deeper meaning to their work. Entrepreneurship then becomes a path to respond to this quest for meaning.
A study published in 2022 by Bpifrance reveals that 71 % of French entrepreneurs claim to have launched their business not only for financial reasons, but also to contribute to a project in accordance with their personal convictions. Most business creators in this study say their activity makes it possible to reconcile autonomy, passion and contribution to society. Thus, for many, Entreprendre is synonymous with finding a field of expression where the work connects directly with their deep aspirations.
Young entrepreneurs seem particularly sensitive to this notion of meaning. According to a survey carried out by KPMG in 2023 with 500 French startups, 66 % of young founders claim that the social and environmental impact of their activity is at the heart of their strategy, in the same way as profitability. This phenomenon goes beyond ethical values: it is a real desire to invest in projects having a positive impact on society.
Mission companies, which have now been governed by a law in France since 2019, have this trend well. These structures, which place the social and environmental impact at the same level as the financial objective, multiply and attract more and more young entrepreneurs. They become an alternative to the traditional model, often perceived as dehumanized or disconnected from current issues. In this context, Entreprendre becomes a concrete way to restore meaning to work.
The limits of entrepreneurship as a solution
However, although entrepreneurship can respond to the crisis of meaning for some, it does not constitute a universal solution. Indeed, entrepreneurship, far from being only a royal road, also presents major challenges that risk weakening this ideal of meaning.
First, creating a business implies considerable responsibilities. Economic challenges, human resources management, profitability pressure or the uncertainty of results can quickly erode the initial vision of meaning. According to a study by the Entrepreneurship Observatory in 2022, 48 % of business creators indicate that economic constraints and concerns related to the management of their business sometimes pushes them to lose sight of the values that motivated them at the outset.
The practical aspects of managing a company – funding for financing, cash management, compliance with regulations – can quickly take over the desire to change the world. In addition, loneliness, often quoted as a major difficulty by entrepreneurs, can sometimes turn into a source of stress, thus harming personal well-being and the quest for meaning.
In addition, entrepreneurship is not accessible to everyone. Financial barriers, administrative complexity and lack of support can slow down those who aspire to create their business but who do not have the means. France, although favorable to entrepreneurship, remains marked by inequalities of access to these opportunities. Entrepreneurship can therefore, in some cases, be perceived as a luxury or a possibility reserved for a certain social class.
The return to the sense in traditional companies
The idea that entrepreneurship is the solution to the meaning crisis can also be nuanced by the fact that changes can occur in traditional companies themselves. More and more business leaders are aware of the expectations of their employees and strive to reinvent their organizations to promote a more human, more flexible and more in line with social and environmental values. Teleworking, flexibility of schedules, and business responsibility initiatives (CSR) are examples of responses to the need for meaning.
A 2023 study conducted by the Deloitte firm on the transformation of companies into France puts forward that 64 % of the managers questioned claim that the management of well-being at work and the alignment of personal objectives with professional objectives are now strategic priorities. These initiatives reflect a desire to restore a meaning in traditional work environments, without necessarily going through the creation of a new company.
