Shared Purpose Revisited - 2040's Ideas and Innovations Newsletter, Issue 59
Back by popular demand, our newsletter on Shared Purpose is the best-read article we have published. It resonates because organizations today need a shared purpose to make a business sustainable. It’s not enough to have shared goals, an organization needs shared intent. Axios reports, “So much misunderstanding, tension and turmoil flow from thinking the other people are dishonest or out to get you. So, stop assuming the worst. Dig deep enough into relationships and business cultures, and you often find bad assumptions in the roots. Telltale signs are suspicion, backbiting or score-settling.”
Shared purpose is getting to the heart of what is intended, and its practical application is to actively listen and talk (don’t text). In a recent Flex Jobs Survey, the number-one reason people are quitting their jobs is toxic company culture. A positive work environment matters most to employees, and a shared purpose actualizes trust, respect, and the intrinsic dignity of every individual.
Operating in a fractious marketplace and a splintered society makes shared purpose all the more essential to intentionally build trust and relationships among teams. Younger employees in particular need something they can believe in and dedicate themselves to that brings meaning and purpose to their lives. Positioning your organization through the lens of how it helps develop strengths and skills for each employee, brings stakeholders valuable insights and guidance on how to do their jobs, and plays a role in building community credibility goes a long way today.
Enjoy the read and take shared purpose seriously. It will pay off on every level you operate and guide you to the future following your own North Star.