Starting with Us - People
When people look for purpose, they often seek meaning, direction, and fulfilment. Purpose can be understood as a sense of significance or contribution to something greater than oneself. It often involves aligning one’s values, interests, and skills with activities or goals that bring a sense of satisfaction and meaning.
For me, the search for purpose reflects a fundamental aspect of human nature—the desire to understand one’s place in the world and live a meaningful and fulfilling life. For many of us, it can encompass questions about identity, values, and aspirations. It tends to evolve as individuals grow and change.
Finding purpose can involve exploring personal passions, pursuing meaningful relationships, contributing to the well-being of self and others, or engaging in activities that align with one’s values and beliefs. It’s a deeply personal journey that requires introspection, self-discovery, and often experimentation to uncover what truly resonates and brings a sense of purpose to one’s life. Even what some would consider “mistakes” are “learning opportunities” to expand and grow. For some people, this journey can become their “identity”, a personal brand representing the reason they show up in the world and the legacy they are looking to leave behind.
The Parallels between Personal Purpose and Organisational Identity
In the quest for fulfilment and success, individuals and businesses often embark on a journey to discover their purpose, that underlying factor that drives them to push through and strive for excellence. While the context may differ, the fundamental principles and significance remain remarkably similar. Understanding the parallels between personal purpose and organisational identity sheds light on their importance and impact.
At the heart of both personal purpose and organisational identity lies a sense of direction and meaning. Purpose is a guiding light for individuals, influencing decisions, goals, and actions. It provides a framework for prioritising values and aspirations, leading to a desired, more fulfilling life. Similarly, an organisation’s identity, comprising its mission, vision, and values, is a compass for strategic direction and decision-making. It defines the organisation’s reason for existence and shapes its culture and operations.
The Power of Aligned Purpose
In the quest for fulfilment and success, individuals and businesses often embark on a journey to discover their purpose, that underlying factor that drives them to push through and strive for excellence. While the context may differ, the fundamental principles and significance remain remarkably similar. Understanding the parallels between personal purpose and organisational identity sheds light on their importance and impact.
At the heart of both personal purpose and organisational identity lies a sense of direction and meaning. Purpose is a guiding light for individuals, influencing decisions, goals, and actions. It provides a framework for prioritising values and aspirations, leading to a desired, more fulfilling life. Similarly, an organisation’s identity, comprising its mission, vision, and values, is a compass for strategic direction and decision-making. It defines the organisation’s reason for existence and shapes its culture and operations.
Misalignment Creates a Rub
None of this is rocket science or new, but it serves as a reminder that things are more aligned when you are living or operating within your purpose and values. Things run smoother.
However, working out of alignment with purpose, values, and beliefs creates conflict. It can make a rub, friction that can feel like a weight or draining for an individual; for a business, it often presents itself as operating in conflict with the organisation’s identity and opening a range of risks, with a notable symptom being employee disengagement. The risks associated with misalignment can have significant consequences, and it becomes evident as the cracks appear, affecting credibility and reputation, often within the business and externally.
The two blogs listed below may provide you with additional insights into some of the symptoms and consequences misalignment can create:
What Unites Us
In summary, the parallels between personal purpose and organisational identity underscore their shared importance and influence. Whether at an individual or organisational level, finding purpose provides a sense of direction, fosters connection, and enables meaningful contributions. By embracing purpose-driven approaches, individuals and businesses can unlock their full potential and create lasting value in their respective spheres.
Failure to notice or address friction or discord can lead to misalignment between how a person or business portrays itself and how it shows up and operates, which can result in damaging consequences, such as a tarnished reputation and heightened risks, not to mention lost revenue and opportunities.
The power of purpose and identity can unite us as long as it is aligned with how we show up, whether as individuals or businesses. So, how are you showing up?
