21 September 2023
By Cherie Mylordis
In an era where buzzwords like 'employee engagement' and 'corporate culture' dominate, many organisations still miss out on the keystone: purpose.
Yet, progressive companies that pivot their culture towards purpose show promising results—higher employee engagement, reduced turnover, and even increased profits.
Clearly, a sense of purpose isn't just an ethereal concept; it holds tangible value for businesses.
In this article, I explore the undeniable correlation between individual purpose and organisational success.
"Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve more and live richer lives."
- Daniel H. Pink, Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
The intersection of personal and organisational purpose
When a person’s purpose aligns with an organisation's mission, magic happens.
Not only do these people show increased commitment to their roles, but they bring a level of enthusiasm and dedication that has a cascading effect on their teams and amplifies across the organisation.
The rising need for personal purpose at work
The pandemic years intensified people’s quest for purpose. People developed a new sense of self-awareness, and their priorities permanently shifted.
Yet, unfortunately, our research uncovered that less than 40% of leaders can consistently work at their potential.
Research from Gartner showed that while 82% of employees say it’s important for their organisation to see them as a person, not just an employee, only 45% of employees believe their organisation actually sees them this way.
Meanwhile, the same Gartner research uncovered that 65% of employees say the pandemic has made them rethink the place work should have in their lives, and 52% of employees say it made them question the purpose of their day-to-day jobs.
It’s clear that people are asking themselves what makes them feel happy, satisfied and valued.
If they feel their work merely creates outcomes and value to benefit others, their intent to leave increases.
"To go from soulless work in another industry to seeing my work impact people’s lives is fulfilling and rewarding. I have a Chief Executive who encourages me. I have a board who says, ‘Do more’."
- Executive, Health Services, Rethinking the Future of Work in a Fragile World whitepaper
Does purpose beyond the job description bring risk?
Some executives worry that purpose exploration may lead employees away from company goals. This is rarely the case. More often, I find a clear sense of purpose strengthens an individual’s connection to the organisation.
Often, I find that a person’s purpose will clearly relate to their day job, which is what led them down that career path in the first place.
If the link is less obvious, there’s usually still a way to indirectly connect someone’s work to their purpose. For example, someone whose purpose lies in environmental change might be able to link in with a corporate social responsibility initiative, even if it’s outside the scope of their usual work.
Some organisations also provide employee volunteering programs. This allows people to build new skills while working towards their purpose, while bolstering the organisation’s reputation within the local community.
Want to discover more about aligning personal and organisational purposes? Read our latest whitepaper.
Why executives should care
Executives who encourage their employees to explore their purpose can reap many rewards for their organisation.
Far from being a distraction, this exploration often strengthens engagement and boosts overall performance. Teams led by people who are aligned with their purpose are more cohesive, innovative, and ultimately more successful.
Research from Gallup shows a link between employee engagement and their overall wellbeing and turnover. Put simply, engaged employees are more likely to show up, stick around, and drive their organisation forward.
"Companies constantly evolve, and they need new ideas all the time. Engaged employees are a lot closer to the best ideas. They're thinking about the whole company and how they fit into it, and their ideas lead to better decisions."
- Jim Harter, Gallup
Three simple steps to uncover personal purpose
Here are some practical steps to encourage the discovery of personal purpose among your team:
- Initiate the conversation: Reinforce the importance and value of purpose in both group and one-on-one conversations to demonstrate your authentic support.
- Provide resources: Encourage people to explore their purpose by recommending workshops, books, videos, articles and other resources that help in self-discovery.
- Ignite participation: Seek out opportunities, connections and initiatives that align with an employee’s purpose and remove barriers to enable their participation.
Ready to find your why? Join our ‘Define your dare’ workshop. Team packages available.
The future is purpose-driven – are you ready?
Gone are the days when a paycheck alone could secure loyalty and drive performance. In today's transformative business landscape, employees yearn for more: authentic connections, a sense of community, and, most importantly, meaningful work that aligns with their own sense of purpose.
If a company doesn't offer these things, chances are their employees will eventually leave to find them somewhere else. On the flip side, companies that help their teams find a deeper sense of purpose are seeing happier, more committed employees who stick around.
So, as we stand on the brink of a purpose-driven future, the question isn't whether you can afford to join this movement; it's whether you can afford not to.
Does your organisations, team or project have a clear and compelling purpose? If not, contact me to find out how to create one through three guided sessions.
For more insights and practical steps on purpose-driven success, check out our comprehensive whitepaper, Rethinking the Future of Work in a Fragile World.