The misconception of purpose-driven leadership? There is much written about the concept and my intention in this article is to clarify the concept of purpose-driven leadership. To start a reflection process for leaders where they stand in their journey of becoming purpose-driven leaders. It;s a beginning of an insight. More will follow.
What is the misconception surrounding the topic?
The primary misconception of purpose-driven leadership is merely about having a “why” or knowing your values. While understanding your values and understanding a why are essential, they are not sufficient on their own. If you stop at just knowing your “why,” you risk going in many different directions without clear focus.
Great leaders have a clear understanding of their (unconscious) identity and how to focus that on a higher global challenge. A challenge, with highly added value, in line with stakeholder demands and customer needs. In line with the competitive advantage of an organization and its competition.
Can you elaborate on what real purpose-driven leadership entails?
Real purpose-driven leadership channels the leader’s power and focuses it. It’s about comprehending your core identity as a leader. When you look at great coaches around the world. For example: Phil Jackson, Jurgen Klopp and Louis van Gaal. They stay very much true to their core – and elevate their performance building upon who they are.
Our ego or our personality often goes in many directions, misaligning with who we are, our deeper drives, our core strengths and the roles that we play best. Real purpose-driven leadership is thus also living more from the psychological self and aligning with the self – and channeling and building this power.
Let’s go back to the coaches and I remain abstract, you see that their entire system is built around their core strengths. When you look at Phil Jackson: is core strength is understanding human psychology. He has a perfected his approach to keep basketbal players motivated – and part of his philosophy is integrating the practices of indigenous Americans. The secret of the Heyoka indians.
When you lead from your core, you feel joy, strength and gratitude. You’re true to yourself – and thats a high path of leadership development. Competence development, can only bring you so far. Yet to become really purpose driven it’s necessary to relate your core identity to a core task. Something that only you can fulfil – yet you remain open for all the developments, trends and challenges in the world. Then, your vocation starts to emerge.
This understanding helps you to carve out a purpose thats relevant, creates high value. We start to create a vision what the global challenges are that we want to solve, which Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and what high-value products and services to create.
If we are really honest with ourselves, purpose-driven leadership by formulating our purpose, at an even higher level, we feel a gap widening between what we are doing daily and our aspirations, purpose-driven leadership is about embracing this gap and closing it. Purpose elevates our reality yet puts us also in touch with reality.
Purpose-driven leadership
Our programs help c-level leadership to connect to their core power and core task in the world. So they elevate their leadership and organizations. Feel engaged, inspired and have additional willpower to built teams, organisations and live their purpose.
Read more about purpose-driven leadership and purpose-driven organizations.