As thoughtful leaders, it becomes even more important to focus, energize, and retain top talent. Start by assuming everyone on your team is a purposeful leader and helping them define and express that purpose.
Other statistics that support this approach include:
According to a Gallup study, just a 10% increase in employees' connection to their organization's mission and purpose can Sales fell 8.1% while profitability increased 4.4%. (“To get the best performance from your employees, start with purpose.” 2021)
In a survey conducted by Deloitte, respondents It is important to work for an employer that offers meaningful work (84%)it makes them feel proud of the organization they work for (83%), and that they have a role to play in creating a better future for the next generation (80%). (“Beware the Purpose Gap,” 2022)
While 85% of C-suite and senior managers say they embody purpose in their work, only 15% of frontline managers and employees agree (“Help your employees find their purpose or they'll leave,” 2021).
Dr. Jodi Berg, former CEO of Vitamix, transformed a family-owned business into an iconic global brand by using personal purpose as a guiding principle. I met her while she was running the company and was impressed by her consideration of each employee's purpose and the power they brought to the organization.
This passion for purpose is what inspired Jodie to pursue her PhD while working in an executive role. During her research, Jodie conducted three qualitative studies to truly understand the differences between people who are highly purpose-driven and those who are goal-driven. She also sought to understand how the purpose of the work environment and employees' personal purpose impact the quality of their work. The results were striking.
Surprisingly, Jodi concluded that companies with a personal purpose that is completely unrelated to work increase employee engagement at work. Jodi concluded, “Companies can increase engagement and commitment by not only creating and sharing a higher purpose for the company, but also by helping employees identify a personal purpose.” This concept of purpose started with the hiring process and permeated Vitamix's daily operations.
Do you have a formal purpose statement for yourself and your team? A purpose statement helps answer the important question: “Why do we work?” A purpose statement written honestly and with careful consideration can help motivate and keep you and your team on the right track.
My personal and team objectives are:
Personal:
Lead with love. Create and organize with passion. Take care of your health so you can live a long and healthy life. Build value and leave a legacy for your team, your clients, your nieces and nephews.
team:
We celebrate and mentor leaders who create cultures of compassion and individuals who seek meaningful work.
Leadership Activities:
- Make a list of 10 reasons why you work.
- Make a list of 10 reasons why you do your current job.
- From this list and reflection, create a short personal objective for your work.
Team activities – 3 meetings:
Meeting 1:
- Share your personal purpose statement with your team and facilitate the process of developing a personal purpose statement with your team.
- Make a list of 10 reasons why you work.
- Make a list of 10 reasons why you do your current job.
- From this list and reflection, create a short personal objective for your work.
- Discuss how these words can be useful at home and at work.
Meeting 2:
- Before the meeting, have everyone find the purpose or mission of another company they like and bring it to the meeting.
- Each person will read the statement and share what resonated with them.
- Come up with 10 reasons why your team exists.
- Collaboratively draft your team's purpose statement.
Meeting 3:
- Review the draft and finalize the statement as a team.
- Make a list of 5 ways to reference it and use it for future activities.
- Ask each team member to identify one way they use and apply the purpose statement in their work.
As you facilitate this process for yourself and your team, you can find other helpful resources here: