Elevating Your Leadership with Purpose
Helen Keller once said, “Many people have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.” This quote resonates profoundly with leaders who aim to bring meaningful change to their organizations. History gives us numerous examples of leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Walt Disney, who not only communicated their ‘why’ but also inspired others to rally around a shared vision. In the world of business leadership, a similar clarity of purpose can create ripples of positive change.
Consider Herb Kelleher, the founder of Southwest Airlines. He envisioned air travel as a fun and accessible mode of transportation for everyone. In a similar vein, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak aimed to make computers available to all, which he pursued alongside Steve Jobs by challenging the status quo of established technology companies. Sam Walton, the visionary behind Wal-Mart, worked tirelessly to ensure everyone had access to low-cost goods. Starbucks’ Howard Schultz imagined cafes as communal hubs, drawing inspiration from Italian coffee culture to create a social experience.
Central to leadership is constructing a bridge between a company’s overarching purpose and your personal values. Ask yourself: How can my role or the services my organization offers make a tangible difference? In what ways do the values embedded in my work resonate with what truly matters to me? And importantly, how can I effect meaningful change through the relationships and work culture I foster?
Creating Impact and Cultivating Trust
Communicating a purpose extends beyond merely outlining objectives; it requires sharing a greater cause that resonates on a personal level. When your ‘why’ aligns with those of your listeners, trust naturally follows, creating a network of supporters who are aligned with your mission. This shared resonance lays the foundation for mutually beneficial relationships and long-lasting success.
True leaders—those characterized by the K-A-S-H leadership coaching principles of Knowledge, Skills, Attitude, and Habits—understand the importance of consistently communicating the significance behind their actions. It is by unwaveringly focusing on the ‘why’ and showcasing the broader purpose that leaders can inspire their teams and unlock potential for mobilizing collaborative efforts.
As an executive leader, you are the custodian of your organization’s collective energy. Authors James Loehr and Tony Schwartz described leaders as stewards who “recruit, direct, channel, renew, focus and invest energy from all the individual contributors in the service of the corporate mission.” Think deeply about how you might align your personal sense of purpose with that of your organization. Do you see opportunities for synergy?
Purpose as a Source of Renewal
Finding this alignment can rejuvenate the zeal you once felt at the onset of your career. If aligning your purpose proves challenging, consider partnering with an executive leadership coach who employs the K-A-S-H method to help illuminate pathways to fulfillment and deeper satisfaction in your professional journey. Remember, leadership is not just about arriving; it is about consistently steering towards purpose, driven by a clear ‘why’ that ignites energy and enthusiasm in both yourself and those you lead.
Creator of the KASHBOX: Knowledge, Attitude, Skills, Habits
Helping You Realize Your Potential
I help people discover their potential, expand and develop the skills and attitudes necessary to achieve a higher degree of personal and professional success and create a plan that enables them to balance the profit motives of their business with the personal motives of their lives.
