Why is “Purpose’’ SO Important?

Last week, I got a call from an old friend of mine. We studied together at the University, but I hadn’t heard from him since then. He told me that he has been working in the financial sector for over 10 years now, then shared with me many of the significant professional achievements and awesome position titles he had achieved. Two weeks ago, he and his team were recognized as one of the top 5 teams in the global organization for their business results. He admitted that, after the initial euphoria had worn off, he found himself feeling strangely disappointed. He expected to be happier but he was not. He told me that, despite the great position, buying the house of his dreams and being successful, in the eyes of his friends and inside of himself he felt empty.

Maybe you also know someone in your surroundings with a similar story. And I’m thinking about how many people live with an overwhelming sense of emptiness, not because they don’t have enough in their lives, but because they lack a sense of purpose.

Why is knowing ourselves so important?

As Peter Drucker said “You cannot manage other people unless you can manage yourself first.’’

Having purpose is a process of shaping ourselves from the inside out and being a good leader starts with having a high level of self-awareness. When you understand yourself, you are better able to understand and empathize with the people you lead.

Even though it can be quite challenging with our daily busy agenda to make time for ourselves, doing so is a necessity. As only in the calm and silence can we have a conversation with what is hidden within us and so ask ourselves self-exploration questions like, for example:

• Is the life I’m living really the life I want to be living?
• What are the moments in which I experience the greatest aliveness?
• What do I truly value and deeply care about?
• What is the lasting impact I would like to leave in my career and in my life?

Here are 5 reasons why knowing our purpose makes us better leaders:

• When we pursue our life with purpose, it makes us feel more energized, connected to our personal why, and to our unique talents, which we use to contribute to the community and to the world.
• It gives us the power to strive for something bigger than ourselves.
• It makes us more resilient, calls us to move outside of our comfort zone and to take risks beyond our fears.
• It gives us the permission to say ‘No’ to distractions and to focus on what’s right for us, not for anyone else.
• When a leader shares her/his mission with a passion for something big that inspires others, it’s contagious. It inspires others to go the extra mile. It builds a real engagement. Providing inspiration as a leader is not an option, it’s a topmost priority.

Being clear about our purpose is the key ingredient of an authentic self that helps us to accept ourselves and to be confident in who we are!