Your leadership purpose is a statement about who you are as a person and how you bring those unique qualities into your leadership, so you can excel as a leader. First and foremost, leadership purpose is about your values and what in life is most important to you. It’s also considered your why statement—the cause, purpose or beliefs that motivate you in your work on a daily basis and about which you’re most passionate.
I discovered my leadership purpose when I started working at the Truist Leadership Institute and took Mastering Leadership Dynamics as part of my interview process. The first three days of the program focus on helping participants better understand themselves and, particularly, how their beliefs drive their behaviors. After those initial days of introspection, group discussions and exercises, the participants write their own leadership purpose statements.
I realized during Mastering Leadership Dynamics that much of my career was driven by ambition. More than anything, I wanted to achieve professional success—a fancier job title, a larger salary, a corner office with a view. Ironically, when I attained those things I still wasn’t happy!
While taking Mastering Leadership Dynamics, however, I learned my real passion wasn’t getting these trappings of corporate success. Instead, I discovered what I was actually passionate about was helping other people achieve their purpose.
This realization led me to create the following leadership purpose statement:
“Help the people around me achieve success and happiness as they define it.”
This leadership purpose statement is my beacon. It’s enabled me to achieve a deeper connection to my work. It’s also helped me be fully satisfied with my job. And it’s inspired me to invest more time and effort at the Truist Leadership Institute than I had at other organizations. As a result, I’ve been able to achieve greater results at the Leadership Institute because I’m driven by my true purpose.
My leadership purpose statement not only guides my behavior on a daily basis, but it keeps me engaged and on track when my work circumstances are challenging.
One of the things I discovered about myself during Mastering Leadership Dynamics is that I want to be the smartest person in the room. And when I find myself in a work situation where my ideas are challenged—such as suggesting in a meeting what I think is a particularly clever idea that the other meeting attendees swiftly reject—my leadership purpose helps me be objective and respond rationally as opposed to letting my emotions hijack my reaction.
Similarly, when I feel slighted or not listened to in a work situation, my leadership purpose keeps my emotions in check. I’m able to productively move forward.
