By guest blogger Brenda Savoie
[October 1, 2017] What’s your purpose in life? What’s your purpose as a leader? Can you make a connection between your private and professional life?
“The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others” – Albert Schweitzer
Yes, the purpose of living is serving, in one way or another. When you have a higher goal to make other people (and yourself) happy, you feel complete. Isn’t that what leadership is all about, too?
Your inspiration to lead may come from different places. Maybe you want to help others or make this world a better place. Maybe you want to be the best at what you do or you want to innovate.
It doesn’t matter what your purpose is. The important thing is that you need it. As Richard Branson says, purpose-driven companies work better. This element in your leadership makes the employees happier, but it also helps you develop a bond with your audience.
Is there a tried and proven way to become a successful purpose-driven leader? There is: find a good purpose and use it as a foundation of your leadership style. You want specifics? Here are few tips that can help:
- Identify Your Passions – That’s Where Your Purpose Is
If you still haven’t found your greater purpose, just take a look at your passions and personal values. What makes you happy? It’s not just profit. There’s something you want to pursue even when obstacles prevent you from achieving it easily. Do you envision peace? Solving the issue of hunger? Giving homeless people a warm place to stay? Challenging people to be a bit better?
Look for the things that matter the most to you. Then, you can identify a professional purpose that will define your leadership style.
- Find Your Purpose and Align All Goals with It
Did you find a clear purpose for being a leader? Good. Now, you have to align all goals and activities with it. If, for example, you have a purpose to make your product accessible to all people from all over the world, all departments of your organization should strive towards it.
Natalya Rudick, career expert from UKBestEssays, explains: “The idea behind a purpose-driven leadership is cohesion. All your goals, including the short-term ones, should be guided by that grand motif. It’s how Richard Branson and all other great leaders lead.”
- Involve Your Employees
Your entire organization should be engaged in this purpose. Make your employees love it. Give presentations to educate them about the purpose and make it part of their lives. Ask them:
- How do you feel about this purpose?
- Does it make you perceive your job differently?
- Do you see the changes you’re all making?
- Can you suggest ways to support this purpose better?
Engage them in the process! When they become part of the organization’s mission, they will want you to lead them where they all want to be. They will trust you more.
Biography: Brenda Savoie is a content marketer, private English tutor, life coach and desperate dreamer. Writing her first romance novel. Seeking contentment through mindfulness. Check her blog BestWritingClues and find her on Twitter and Facebook. Brenda is from Australia and currently lives in London, England.
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