Articles

4 Lessons on Connecting People to Purpose From NASA’s Moon Landing

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It’s a familiar organizational leadership story. A well-intentioned leader reads a report on the researched power of purpose or sees a competitor doing it. He or she brings a group together to craft a purpose statement that is timeless, human-centered, far-reaching, and grand. The leader then “communicates” this purpose internally and externally hoping to inspire a sense of meaningfulness or … Read more

What Every Leader Should Know About Purpose

This post was originally featured as part of the Career Leadership Collective. Do you and your team know your purpose or do you believe it? Understanding the difference is critical to building a purposeful team. You’ve most likely heard this story before. John F. Kennedy was about to give a huge speech to inspire the nation … Read more

The 5 Sins of ‘Whywashing:’ How to Stop Misusing Purpose

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Purpose is the new green. And just like sustainability was marred by “greenwashing,” purpose is at the cusp of being diluted by what I call whywashing. Purpose’s psychological power to inspire and compel is clear. But just like anything inherently good, humans will find a way to misuse it for quick material gain. We can … Read more