Purpose?
Why do we do the things we do?
Why do we love what we love?
Why are we here on this planet?
Big Questions.
The reason we do things is sometimes called Purpose.
It's different from Vision. It's more a feeling that you have inside you.
Leading with Purpose
When people come into contact with us, do they see and feel our energy and drive and the reasons why we are doing what we do?
Who do you know like this?
Barak Obama has this sort of Purpose. He has drive. His reason for doing what he does is to change things.
"Yes we can"
Working with Purpose
Studs Terkel in his book called 'Working' says that work should not just be about the money, but it should mean something and if you don't love what you do, then, it's going to be really hard to be a leader in your work.
It's hard to find Purpose if you're not enjoying what you are doing or if you really want to work and you can't find a job.
Purpose with a small 'p'
Purpose doesn't have to be about the big questions, it can be about finding meaning in the little things that we do in our work life.
If someone makes you angry about something, do you leap in and shout at them, or send them an angry email?
What is the Purpose of you doing that?
To show them right then and there how you feel? If you stopped for a short while and thought about it. You might get more 'purposeful' and respond in a better way that would be better in the long run.
Being Purposeful at meetings
When you are in a group of people, at a meeting or event, do you go and get yourself noticed and heard, or do you hide in your plate of sausage rolls, because you feel you cannot speak your mind and talk about what is important to you?
It's not always easy, especially when sometimes it's hard to make yourself understood or you haven't always been taken seriously or felt involved.
It's important that you listen to what the philosopher Emerson said was 'your inner voice' or 'purpose voice'.
If you don't, you may end up not achieving the things you want to in your life time.
Can you get better at Purpose?
Purpose is not something that you can learn in a book, but you can get better at it by reminding yourself when you are doing things with Purpose and when you are doing things without Purpose.
Think about
a time when you felt brilliant about what you were doing, because it was so close to your heart
a time when you felt really strange and sad at work, because you were doing something that made you feel really unhappy
Remember how it feels to be living your work life with Purpose.
Sarah Pickthall, Sync Coaching
