There is so much talk on leadership. Host leaders. Servant leaders. Purpose driven leaders. Conscious leaders. Participative leaders. And the dreaded authoritarian leader. One wonders which box one fits into.
Good leadership really comes down to a few simple ingredients: Inspiration, enthusiasm, commitment, and selflessness. These traits are what a purpose driven leader is defined by. When you lead with purpose, you know what you’re working towards. You radiate an energy and passion for the work. You have the drive to make the impossible, possible. You stay focused and committed in the face of adversity
The tricky part is unlocking this purpose within people. You see, humans aren’t meant to be painted into a corner. Society is constantly trying to push people into specialisations. Schools create people to fit jobs. But the world is changing so quickly, and people need to be able to bridge different areas, network with different people and respond to different challenges.
It’s too easy in our jobs to drop into a rhythm where you feel like you are going around the block. People can feel constrained. It’s hard to know how they can contribute. Everyone knows their places in the system. The key is finding ways to give people the opportunity to step out of their circuit, to find their own route. To have the chance to step out of the hierarchy. To do and be more so that they can unlock that special magic within.
And when this happens, it’s extremely powerful. Therefore, encouraging personal growth within a company is so important. We need more people to know what makes them tick. When they know this, they have more potential to be the purpose driven leader every company dreams of. But that’s just the beginning.
Once you have unlocked someone’s purpose, they are then open to constant learning. This is because they have the clarity and power of their purpose. They aren’t afraid to step out of their comfort zones, they are open to embrace change, seek new information, and new opportunities. This is when things get exciting.
We all know that companies need to change. That’s the very thing that ensures their survival. And with more purpose driven leaders, there are more people willing to help companies challenge the status quo. Companies should be open to a constant learning mindset, and not only invest in this type of growth and discovery but be open to doing things differently. To adapt to this changing landscape. Great, so now what? The trick is helping people to unlock their purpose. Companies need to recognise that people are yearning to be and do more.
Here are 5 ways people can start discovering their purpose:
Developing personal adaptability. Uncertainty should be a source of inspiration not paralysation. A Harvard Business Review article said that one of the most reliable indicators and predictors of true leadership is the ability to learn from the most challenging of circumstances. The skills needed to transcend adversity and emerge stronger and more determined than ever are the same ones that make for extraordinary leaders.
Becoming more agile. Helping people to trust their instincts, skills and purpose so they can respond in a faster more conscious and meaningful way, therefore helping lead the company forward. Empower people and give them autonomy so they can come up with ideas and solution faster.
Create a “safe-space culture”. People need to be seen as an integral part of the company, not only as an employee. Trust them and give them the freedom to push boundaries, to defy convention and to challenge the status quo. Empower them to come up with changes and help them learn from mistakes.
Value differences. Ideas come from many different places. Working in a diverse cultural which has to do with race, nationality, language, and upbringing, fosters fresh thinking, imagination, and a more acute sense of self.
Create a culture of curiosity. Curiosity is a powerful tool and companies need to encourage opportunities that help people see themselves through the power of curiosity. Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein and Paul Smith all share a similar trait. Curiosity.
