Fragmentation to Unity: Building a Cohesive Force
In the modern organizational landscape, achieving unity is crucial. Purpose-Driven Organizations (PDO) have the potential to unite the needs of stakeholders, employees, and leadership by fostering meaningful work and integrating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Today’s workforce and stakeholders demand organizations to embed SDGs into their core operations. Failure to do so risks losing talent and stakeholder support. The business case is so evident according EY.
I mean you will literally start losing – at a much faster pace – employees and leaders, especially generation y and z yet and also external stakeholders if you’re organization doesn’t contribute its strength to solve challenges in the larger context of the world.
That preference is true for B2B buyers, too. A quantitative survey of 3000 B2B buyers across multiple sectors confirmed that personal values like pride or popularity play a greater role than business or functional value. In fact, these qualities have twice the influence on commercial buying decisions – Purposecraft
The c-level leadership is key in living the credo of there is power in unity. Their strategic objectives should embrace ‘vertical development’ meaning going from a productive firm, to a purpose-driven and higher purpose driven organization (I have explained the transition and levels of purpose-driven organizations here).
There is often a relation between the level of development of the c-level and the development in an organization. When leaders start to feel how the transition is from competent leaderhip development towards purpose-driven leadership development they start to want to integrate it into their organization. They are the key connection between purpose-driven leadership and purpose-driven organizations. Let me elaborate a bit more in the next paragraph.
The Need for Purpose-Driven Leadership
Research indicates that only 20% of leaders are truly purpose-driven, often leading to an over-reliance on competence and effective leadership alone. Great sports coaches, for instance, excel by understanding their core and aligning their methods, teams, and stakeholders around it. Phil Jackson, the legendary NBA coach, is a prime example. Jackson emphasized the importance of mindfulness, self-awareness, and team cohesion, helping his players reach their full potential by aligning their personal strengths and drives with the team’s goals. This approach ignites engagement and inspiration, fostering a willingness to fight healthy battles and increasing vitality against burnout and bore-out. If you look at key concepts in leadership development such as levels of development of bateson and maslow, these are focused at the top levels of development.
Aligning Purpose Across the Organization
When leaders align with their purpose and include the purpose of employees, the organization finds strength in unity. Currently, only 23% of the workforce is engaged. The greatest talent drain comes from the internal struggle to find and create purpose, particularly in highly developed OECD countries. People, including middle management are struggline to find purpose. Some are withdrawing from the workforce – like quiet quitting or the great escape. Nobless oblige – leaders have the obligations to show people a clear path towards purpose. It’s the smart thing to do. In the blockbuster movie Dune they talk about Kwisatz haderach. Meaning to shorten the path. People are searching and leaders can give clarity – and help them get what they need.
Patagonia, the outdoor clothing company, exemplifies the power of aligning purpose across an organization. Their mission, “We’re in business to save our home planet,” resonates deeply with both employees and customers. This alignment creates a cohesive culture where employees feel their work is meaningful and contributes to a larger cause. The company’s commitment to environmental sustainability and ethical practices serves as a daily reminder of its purpose, driving engagement and loyalty.
Purpose-driven Organizations
Our leadership development programs help the c-level leadership to become a purpose-driven organization. So they elevate their organization and value for all their stakeholders. Feeling growth, increasing production, retaining toptalent and living a legacy – to engage in a healthy fight for mankind and our planet.
Read more about purpose-driven leadership and purpose-driven organizations