In this post you will learn what is Purpose and where to start managing it in your organization.
Companies nowadays are facing an exponential change. Besides the current pandemic, organisations also have challenges such as digitization, new disruptive companies, the perception and expectations of the relationship between business and society are changing, levels of trust in brands are decreasing, and consumer behavior is changing at fast speed.
A growing number of business leaders and experts recognize that a shared sense of purpose can help companies to address these new challenges and to transform their business models. Companies can start by analyzing their relationships with internal and external stakeholders, the social and environmental impact, and strategy so it can be identified and work on the business purpose.
The goal is to connect to the organizational purpose, which is not something businesses discover, but rather something you work with your team on. It is an inspiring reason for being, defined as the aspirational reason for being that inspires and provides a call to action for a company, its partners and stakeholders, and offers benefits to communities globally and locally.
The power of purpose is obvious as the world battles the urgent threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses have also the opportunity and moral responsibility to commit to tackling planetary boundaries and communities' needs.
Having said that, for a brand to create a strong identity, it must have a powerful internal purpose, and the leadership mindset should be beyond "imaginative structures and services".
Internal speed: it is synonymous with a thriving culture. Many CEOs fear that employees will not be not actively engaged. Linking the individual purpose to the organizational one is the critical connection. It helps employees to bring enthusiasm, creativity, and collaboration at work.
Real-time data: not only with SaaS products for human resources, maintenance programs, CRM, or PMS, it is about acting on data as quickly as possible to correct irresponsible behavior that does not attend the main organizational purpose, objectives, and strategic plans
Intersectoral mindset: we must adapt new trends and understand the new sharing economy built by interconnected communities. Therefore, to have purpose-oriented workplaces, we need to take them into account and see industry changes and business challenges in a more holistic way to offer better solutions.
Sustainability as strategy and DNA: it concerns how we operate in every decision from top to bottom. It's not where you spend the profit (e.g donating charities), it's about how you earn that profit. Listening and acting on all corporate stakeholders' concerns, to become a net positive and regenerative business model.
Sustainable development goals: choosing priorities, not what's easier for the company. Identify which of the 17 United Nations goals are a priority for your business and work in those areas and end all types of practices harmful to the environment or local communities (directly or indirectly caused by the business operations).
Long-term strategy vs short-term results: find a balance by providing business results but having a long-term strategy, in which people are at the center of the company, choosing the right KPIs to encourage leaders to guide the company to serve the organizational purpose, because only by doing so will it be profitable in the long term.
Encouraging a company to define and live its purpose consistently challenges the status quo in ways that are disturbing for the workforce as well as for the owners. However, by supporting this change with empathetic driving, we can develop a broad future vision inspiring and building trust with colleagues and industry peers. Processes and systems are there to take the thought out of things. There is efficiency to it, but once we rely on the process over the thought it takes the creativity out of the situation.
How to put purpose at the core?
Business leaders have to connect with it emotionally and logically:
Stakeholders
- Which areas of the business strategy are most and least consistent with the company’s purpose?
-Reflect on how are we creating value and driving progress across ESG factors
Measure
-Analyze the business social and environmental impact, starting with a review of your supply-chain and supplier risks.
-What data do we need to understand the organization’s social, environmental impact?
-What is not currently being reported or measured that society will hold the business accountable for?
Benefits
-Financial support. Banks rewarding purposeful business with cheaper capital or access to credit.
-Environmental stewardship can reduce costs
-Unleash employee potential (boost employee motivation and reduce attrition rates)
-Help to identify risks you might otherwise miss
-Inspire creative thinking
HR & Development
- Making purpose routinely reflects
-Do your critical organizational building blocks have the autonomy and incentives to do their work with purpose?
-What is the business doing to foster internal culture?
-What educational programs are the business providing for employees?
-Work on eliminating bias and elevating consciousness
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