Leadership is more than just a title. At the very heart of leadership is the authentic desire to influence others and create value in the world. Great leaders are concerned not just with the bottom line but they are equally attuned to building a sense of community where people feel valued.
Leading with purpose takes insight, courage and time. One does not become a purposeful leader overnight; rather, it’s a personal journey that starts with a commitment to self. That commitment is about being a leader worth following. A leader who makes a difference for others, takes risks, inspires hope, shares the glory, admits mistakes, lives their values and communicates a compelling vision.
But why bother being a purposeful leader? There are plenty of successful leaders who haven’t given a moment of thought to leading with purpose. For them, it’s about bottom-line profits and competition. While money and a healthy rivalry are important to the life of a company there’s more to it than that.
From an organizational perspective a purposeful leader champions the strategic goals and vision of the company that ultimately fulfills the promises made to customers. From an employee perspective a purposeful leader creates an environment where people are encouraged to perform at their best because they know they’re valued. From a customer standpoint a purposeful leader strives to consistently meet and exceed expectations. Given the choice, it would seem that most of us would gravitate toward the purposeful leader.
The first step toward purposeful leadership begins with introspection. It takes courage to look at oneself and ask “why would someone be motivated to follow me?” Beyond your technical expertise and ability to drive results what qualities do you consistently offer that would inspire others to gravitate toward you?
Create a balance sheet of your leadership qualities. Does it add up to a leader who is equally concerned with bottom-line results as well as building a team of employees who feel valued? Are you a leader who wants to both make a profit and a difference?
If you’re out of balance then make a commitment to not just making a profit but to making a difference, too. Identify one thing you can do this week (each and every day) to make your employees feel valued. Concentrate on creating a community of followers who feel their good work and unique contributions are appreciated.
Also, consider your values and how much you use them to guide how you operate as a leader. Purposeful leaders have clear values that shine through. Think about your values and actively use them in your leadership approach.
Leading with purpose generates powerful results that leave both you and your employees feeling fulfilled.
Heather Backstrom is an executive coach, leadership development consultant and speaker. She has a doctorate in organizational leadership from Pepperdine University. She can be reached at www.heatherbackstrom.com