Workplace stress and depression is on the rise with many people struggling to find true fulfilment from their careers. The UCT Graduate School of Business (UCT GSB) is offering a groundbreaking new course this October to help South Africans to fulfil their potential, tap into a greater sense of purpose and become a source of inspiration within their organisations.

The Purpose and Personal Leadership course is designed to address the negative feelings that many people associate with their work – countless people around the world see work as an unfortunate part of life, a source of suffering that is necessary for economic survival.

However, this need not be the case.

According to course co-directors Professor Kurt April of the UCT GSB, and Nick Williams, entrepreneur, coach and author of the celebrated book The Work You Were Born To Do, the 21st century is ushering in a new way of thinking about our careers and how they can bring fulfilment to our lives – which is good news for both workers and employers.

“In many cases workplace suffering can be linked directly back to the unhappy compromise that many people make when starting a career – choosing between love and money. Many of us are taught growing up that the two rarely co-exist and must therefore sacrifice one for the other.

“But the reality is that people who feel a sense of purpose and fulfilment from their work are rarely the ones who suffer from depression,” said April.

This is a sentiment that is echoed by Williams, who believes that people should aim to share their unique talents with the world through their vocation.

He has coached countless people to answer their true calling and start businesses that combine their passions and economic needs.

“Today more people want to experience fulfilment; they want to feel appreciated and to experience some meaning in their work by knowing that they express their unique gifts and talents to make the lives of others better,” said Williams.

When these needs are left unattended, employees can get depressed or even experience burnout.

According to Professor April, a happy and healthy workforce is a more productive one and workplace depression not only affects individuals but entire organisations too.

The course will therefore tackle the notion of leadership in a novel and refreshing way to show how the workplace can become a space in which employees can thrive both personally and professionally.