The Role of Purpose and Meaning in Personal and Professional Success
Issue 199, February 13, 2025
We believe it is an opportune moment to review how purpose is a cornerstone of both individual and organizational success. Strategy, tactics and organizational playbooks are often confused as purpose. Goals are mistakenly identified as purpose. And a corporate mission statement is misunderstood as purpose. It’s the human factor that embodies purpose and becomes the transformative force that drives meaningful change. You can read more about this in our book, The Truth About Transformation.
Loss of Purpose
In our current environment, one could argue that we are operating in a transactional society. Federal policies and corporate principles have become transactions. In response to a flurry of executive orders, organizations are rolling back human-based programs in a transactional reaction to government funding and approval. The result is confusion and often chaos for the workforce that is blindsided and often betrayed in their belief in their employers and the loyalty they have given.
In this relentless and challenging marketplace environment, finding purpose and meaning is more than a philosophical pursuit, it is fundamental to personal and professional success. Purpose fuels motivation and resilience and provides the clarity needed to navigate complexity and uncertainty. We have written about the importance of following a North Star to ensure individuals and organizations stay oriented with a steady beacon to guide their actions and decisions. This clarity is essential for mastering transformation within organizations, helping teams align their efforts with a shared purpose and collective goals to drive organizational cohesion and performance. When individuals and organizations anchor themselves in purpose, they unlock pathways to fulfillment and sustainable achievement.
Why Purpose Matters More Than Ever
How many times have we followed instructions blindly, trusting that we are making changes that will benefit us? Change and transformation are often engineered through top-down edicts with little to no explanation or guidelines to elicit support from the individuals who have to enact the transformation. Witness the current chaotic conditions with many of our federal employees and private citizens who have been forced to change without explanation or direction.
Purpose is the “why” behind actions. It is what transforms work from a series of tasks and transactions into a meaningful and productive experience. On a personal level, it gives individuals a sense of direction and fulfillment, helping them connect their efforts to larger life goals, such as building a legacy or contributing to societal well-being. Research consistently shows that people with a strong sense of purpose are more engaged, perform better, and experience a greater feeling of well-being. In the professional sphere, organizations driven by purpose outperform their peers in profitability, innovation, and employee retention.
There are poster child examples of how purpose provides the infrastructure for remarkable success. Patagonia, the iconic outdoor apparel brand has integrated environmental sustainability into its core purpose. Employees and customers alike resonate with the company’s ethos, creating loyalty that goes far beyond its product offerings. In a broader context, individuals who connect their daily efforts to a broader mission—whether advancing a social cause or mentoring the next generation—typically experience higher levels of satisfaction and motivation. For example, a young professional working in education might find purpose in teaching, as well as a role in helping to shape the next generation of leaders. Purpose fuels both career aspirations and personal growth.
The Intersection of Personal and Professional Purpose
While professional purpose often focuses on organizational goals, personal purpose is deeply individual, and tied to one’s values, passions, and unique contributions. The most fulfilling careers occur at the intersection of these two dimensions, where personal values align with professional purposes.
Consider healthcare professionals who may find a personal purpose in helping others and their professional purpose in advancing public health. This alignment amplifies their drive and resilience, even in the face of systemic challenges.
Educators who are passionate about equity in education might choose to work with underserved communities, where their work directly addresses ingrained disparities.
Employees who work in publishing and are committed to delivering fair and unbiased content may empower their organizations to mentor students in critical thinking and analytical skills in writing and reporting.
When personal and professional purposes are misaligned, individuals often feel a profound sense of disconnection. This dissonance may manifest as chronic stress, reduced motivation, or a feeling of being “stuck” in their roles. Without a clear purpose to guide them, individuals can become overwhelmed by the day-to-day grind, questioning the meaning and value of their contributions, in turn, undermining their performances.
Conversely, alignment between personal and professional purposes creates a powerful synergy that fosters growth, clarity, and fulfillment. It can spark enthusiasm, enhance emotional well-being, and restore a sense of control over one’s role in life. When individuals have this alignment, their purpose provides steady direction and resilience, even in uncertain or challenging times. This alignment not only inspires confidence but also transforms obstacles into opportunities for personal and professional growth, empowering individuals to navigate their paths with greater intentionality and satisfaction.
Cultivating Purpose
Purpose isn’t something we simply find; it is cultivated by thorough reflection, experimentation, and open-mindedness. Being mindful, we allow ourselves to be open to how new experiences, new events or changes in systems may reveal a purpose we didn’t see or know existed. Purpose can be identified through iteration or a sudden burst of insight. In either case, it requires intentional re-evaluation to ensure it continues to guide actions and decisions effectively. For individuals, reviewing personal purpose might mean reassessing career paths and personal priorities to ensure alignment with evolving goals and values. It is well reported that younger employees have re-evaluated their life-work balance as a measure of success and fulfillment. The optimum outcome of shared purpose is integrating individual aspirations with organizational collective goals.
How to stay true to a shared purpose? Here are key steps to help individuals and organizations embrace purpose.
Reflection on Core Values. Start by identifying what matters most. For individuals, this might involve meaningful conversations, reading, being open to experiences and being part of an affinity community. For organizations, this requires dialogue with stakeholders to articulate shared values. For example, a company facing declining employee engagement might conduct peer-to-peer workshops and mentoring groups to realign its mission and values, ensuring they resonate with the team.
Set Meaningful Goals. Purpose thrives when tied to specific, actionable goals. These goals should be a stretch while staying true to core values. Individuals passionate about environmental conservation could set a goal to reduce their households’ carbon footprint by 50% while also advocating and presenting a plan for sustainable policies in the workplace.
Foster a Sense of Belonging. Purpose is amplified through authentic connection. Individuals thrive when they feel part of something larger than themselves, whether a team, community, or movement. For instance, someone volunteering for a local nonprofit may find that their involvement not only serves the community but also strengthens their own sense of purpose and personal identity. Organizations can create a culture of belonging by celebrating achievements and involving employees in decision-making processes tied to the company’s purpose.
Reassess and Adapt. Purpose evolves over time. Regularly revisit your goals and values to ensure they reflect your current circumstances and aspirations. A mid-career professional might pivot from single-mindedly climbing the corporate ladder to giving back by mentoring emerging leaders.
Purpose in Action: Success Stories
There are many real-world success stories that illustrate and inspire others on how purpose drives results.
Personal Purpose. Oprah Winfrey’s purpose has always centered on empowering others to live their best lives. From her talk show, book club, and film production to her philanthropic efforts, every endeavor reflects her core mission, amplifying her impact and legacy.
Organizational Purpose: Salesforce embeds philanthropy in its operations through its 1-1-1 model, dedicating 1% of equity, product, and employee time to charitable causes. This commitment not only drives social good but also attracts purpose-driven employees and customers.
Shared Purpose: Rethink Food, a nonprofit organization based in New York City, addresses hunger in the United States by collecting excess food from restaurants, grocery stores, and corporate kitchens to provide nutritious meals for people experiencing food insecurity. By rallying its staff and community around the shared purpose of ending hunger it aligns individual roles with this overarching purpose. Rethink Food has achieved a measurable impact and fostered a culture of unity and motivation.
The Transformative Power of Purpose
At its core, purpose is transformative. Like a North Star, it shapes how we approach challenges, connect with others, and measure success by providing a relevant reference point. For individuals, this transformation can manifest as increased confidence, clarity in life goals, a renewed sense of energy and focus on meaningful endeavors. In our book The Truth About Transformation, purpose is the foundation upon which meaningful, human-centered change is built, enabling both individuals and organizations to thrive. As we navigate the complexities of modern life and work, purpose serves as a compass, guiding us toward actions that matter. For readers seeking to deepen their understanding of purpose, consider revisiting our article on Shared Purpose to explore how collective alignment creates powerful outcomes.
As you reflect on your journey, ask yourself: Am I aligning my actions with my values? What legacy do I want to build? By embracing purpose, am I unlocking success, as well as a deeper, more meaningful way of living and working.
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The 2040 construct to change and transformation. What’s the biggest reason organizations fail? They don’t honor, respect, and acknowledge the human factor.
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