How to lead with purpose

(originally posted on Stoicleaders.com)

If you wake up every morning and hate going to work, you make be lacking purpose.

If you are looking to make an impact in the world and your team is not stepping up to help, you may also be lacking purpose.

LEADING WITH PURPOSE

As an individual and as a leader, it is important to have a clear and meaningful purpose. Purpose (which I will also call a mission) is what drives and motivates us, and it is what inspires others to follow. Leading with purpose means being intentional about the impact you want to make and the legacy you want to leave behind. In this article, we will explore the importance of leading with purpose and provide practical tips for how you can do so effectively.

WHY PURPOSE MATTERS

Purpose matters to you. Purpose gives our lives meaning. It gives us a reason to wake up in the morning. Purpose can also help us prioritize what is truly important and give us a sense of perspective. When you are on a personal mission, you are able to focus more on what is in front of you and forget the things that don’t matter.

When you think of your purpose or mission, realize you are not limited to just one. You can desire to be a top-notch parent, a savvy business-person, and a skilled artist. What is more important is that you have a reason to wake up and get after it.

Purpose also matters to your followers. Leaders who are driven by a clear purpose are more likely to inspire and engage their followers. When people feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves, they are more likely to be committed and motivated. Also, when times get tough, a clear mission can also provide direction and clarity. When leaders have a strong sense of purpose, they are better equipped to make difficult decisions and navigate complex challenges.

HOW TO LEAD WITH PURPOSE

Leading with purpose requires intentional effort and self-reflection. Here are some practical tips for how you can lead with purpose:

1. DEFINE YOUR PURPOSE

What impact do you want to make? What legacy do you want to leave behind? Take some time to reflect on your skills, values, passions, and strengths. Consider what motivates and inspires you. What are you good at? What are your unique skills? Where are you positioned that could be most impactful for others? Your purpose should be something that resonates deeply with you and that you can articulate clearly to others.

And let’s be real, your mission should be both aspirational and within reach. If you are on a mission to be the world’s best pianist, yet you have never touched a piano key… maybe get in 20 hours of practice and see if you still have that itch. Your purpose should be inline with your skills. Your work mission should be inline with your company’s function.

There are two layers here. You should have a least one personal purpose and a professional purpose. Your personal purpose should revolve around you. What are your goals? How are you going to develop over time? What are you going to do to improve? Where is your life headed? This purpose will help you clarify actions for yourself. Your professional purpose is about your work. This purpose should require the help of others to achieve. I mean, leaders have followers… Where are you leading them?

2. COMMUNICATE YOUR PURPOSE

Once you have defined your purpose, it is important to communicate it clearly: both to yourself and others. Your purpose should be a central part of your leadership message. Share your purpose with your team, stakeholders, and other stakeholders. Help them understand why your purpose is important and how it guides your decisions and actions.

When you commit to a purpose, write it down. Review it regularly. Just as followers will get motivated by a clear and powerful mission. You can get motivated by your own clear and powerful purpose. Your work purpose should be documented and shared with the team. Your personal purpose should be documented and shared with yourself.

3. ALIGN YOUR ACTIONS WITH YOUR MISSION

Leading with purpose requires aligning your actions. Make sure that your decisions and actions are consistent with your mission. If you are unsure how to align your actions with your purpose, simply ask yourself: “How does this decision/action align with my purpose?” If it doesn’t align with your purpose, choose a different decision or action.

Remember, your purpose or mission is like a north star. It may not be clear exactly how you will achieve your goals, but with a north star you will know which direction to go. When you must make a decision, your purpose is there to guide you.

4. INSPIRE OTHERS

Leading with purpose is about inspiring others to join you in your mission. Share your purpose with others and help them see how they can contribute to your mission. Share with people beyond your work group. Share with outsiders. Share with customers. Share with anyone who will listen. Then, provide opportunities for others to get involved and make a difference.

But how do you inspire others? Through emotion. Through words. Through conviction. Paint a picture of the world you want to see. How will your business or product change the world? How will it change one individual? How will it change you? These are stories to tell. 

How aspirational is your mission? Are you looking to revolutionize space technology and achieve the ultimate goal of allowing humans to live on other planets (SpaceX)? Are you on a mission to empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve more (Microsoft)?

Or do you just want to “to bring the best user experience to customers through innovative hardware, software, and services.” (I love you Apple, but this mission statement does not create an emotional connection).

Nobody gets inspired to increase shareholder value. No one gets expired by the “best” of anything. People, especially the younger generations, want to know their work is meaningful and has an impact.

Use emotion. Paint a pretty picture of what’s possible (accidental alliteration). Inspire others.

5. CONTINUOUSLY REFLECT AND REFINE

Finally, leading with purpose requires ongoing reflection and refinement. Take time to reflect on your purpose and evaluate how well you are aligning your actions with your purpose. Ask for feedback from others and be open to making changes as needed. Purpose is not a one-time decision; it is an ongoing journey of self-discovery and growth. It is a north star which may shift over time.

CONCLUSION

Leading with purpose is a powerful way to inspire and engage others. It requires intentional effort and self-reflection, but the benefits are well worth it. When we have a clear and meaningful purpose, we are more likely to find fulfillment in our work and make a positive impact on the world around us.

So, get thinking. Get writing. Make clear your purpose.

Thanks for reading.

Until next time,

Clark