Being purpose-driven is demanding. It can feel like a Sisyphean task, driving toward a horizon that is always out of reach. Having an ambitious purpose can make us feel like what we are doing is never good enough. But lowering the bar, or failing to define purpose altogether, will inevitably make us feel like all our efforts aren’t worth it.
To Craft a Purpose That Motivates Your Team, Balance Pragmatism and Idealism
Four key questions to ask as part of the process.
December 01, 2023
Olena Koliesnik/Getty Images
Summary.
While many leaders strive to energize and motivate their teams to do work that matters, the unfortunate reality is that employees often feel disconnected to their company’s core purpose. Purpose statements, if they exist at all, tend to be too vague or too lofty, or both. To use purpose to drive business, leaders need to balance idealism and pragmatism. This article discusses how to develop and implement a purpose for your business that is both clear and demanding, and that stretches between current strategy and long-term plans.