WHY IS PURPOSE DRIVEN LEADERSHIP SO IMPORTANT NOW?
Have you ever wondered, why do I exist? What is the PURPOSE of my life? These questions are challenging to answer and represent our constant search for meaning in our lives.
In over 10 years’ experience as an Executive Coach, I discovered one common theme, a lack of clarity of PURPOSE, or ultimately, a lack of success in leadership.
Life without PURPOSE is like living without a reason for being. You live life, but with a constant deep- seated feeling that something is missing. You cannot pinpoint it and so you continue on the treadmill while aspiring to achieve more and more. However, once you attain those heights, the void within resurfaces.
I journeyed this road myself, traveling the world for 18 years, seeking resolution to, WHO AM I? This question troubled me. It led me to saying yes to things I should have declined and got me into a variety of needless situations and relationships because I lacked clarity of PURPOSE in my life. You might have had a similar experience or are still feeling stuck?
Let me affirm that being unaware of your reason for being, makes life feel unfulfilled. No matter how much you have achieved, you descend into ingratitude and negative thinking and you keep striving for more and more and more. Why? Because you have not unearthed “you” or met yourself yet.
The good news is that it is never too late. As long as you are still reading this, there is hope!
To be a leader of greatness, you have to know your PURPOSE in life. Afterall, how can you lead others when you are yourself, directionless? You cannot attain success in influencing others with a lack of self–awareness. People are inspired by leaders who have that clarity of PURPOSE. Consider Nelson Mandela for example, one of the greatest leaders, the epitome of PURPOSE. His purpose manifested as a clearly defined vision and likewise, demonstrated his passion for that vision. The result, influencing hordes of people to believe in his vision. The point is that it first starts with knowing your PURPOSE in order to achieve greatness and live a meaningful life that is not only fulfilling to you, but that others are inspired by it too.
Many leaders ask me, how they can find their PURPOSE. It’s a great question. Thank you for asking. The answer is that your PURPOSE is hidden within. You just have to discover it and release it.
You cannot create or build what you did not define first, so let’s begin….
Helpful tips to discover your PURPOSE.
Awareness of your core values:
Gaining clarity on the core values which drive you will help you choose the direction for your life that is in line with what is important to you. It will not only assist you in determining the behaviour that promotes your values but will also support you in shaping your goals towards the direction that reinforces those core values.
Step 1
Make a list of what you value in life. Write as many as you can.
Step 2
Choose 5 top values in importance from the list.
Step 3
Now prioritise your values and rank them in numbers from 1 – 5, with 1 being the top value.
Step 4
Ask yourself under each value:
- What does this value mean to me now?
- Why is this value so important to me now?
Write it down.
The goal of this exercise is to raise your awareness to what really matters to you. You will discover what deeply satisfies and fulfills you in life. Having clarity and a deep understanding of your core values is the initial step to realizing your PURPOSE by looking inward. As I said before, your PURPOSE is not outside of you, but inside you. You have to unveil it.
I strongly believe that great leaders should be inspired by PURPOSE.
One of the most effective ways to discover your PURPOSE is to understand your values and live your life according to those values and aspirations. Take some time to think about who you are, what you believe in, and what’s important to you. The key is to be true to yourself, to be true to the very best that is in you, and to live your life synchronously with your highest values and aspirations.
“Those who have a clearly defined “why” to live for, can bear with almost any “how”
P SMITH
For more information on how to discover your PURPOSE in life, as a leader, book your coaching session with me. Let’s begin the journey now!
