Purpose & Vision = Transformation & Growth

I’ve reflected a lot about what it is that makes leaders not only successful but also seem to fulfill them and truly makes them happy. After 20+ years working with executives or entrepreneurs either within projects or 1:1 settings or in private conversation, I believe that these leaders - I call them purpose driven or visionary leaders – deeply act from their INNER CORE. They act “inside out”, their characteristics, behaviors and actions are flowing out of or are guided by this core philosophy.

And this core philosophy basically consists of 3 parts:

1. Vision
2. Purpose & Mission
3. Authenticity

Those leaders have a bold, compelling vision for their organization and this vision is imbued with a purpose that goes beyond just market share, stock price or efficiency. It doesn’t necessarily need to be an ecological cause but it’s something that transcends their organization, like a universally accepted virtue, a basic human value or general principle that society is lacking. And the vision then pulls that purpose into reality.
At the same time they make sure the company pursues what HBS Professor Ranjay Gulati calls a “Deep purpose”: A purpose that is not only an ancillary ESG-initiative, but deeply embedded in the company’s mission, meaning it’s an integral part of its very business model.

Vision, Purpose and Mission are an interlocked cohesive energy source that these leaders utilize to drive the organization. In reality it’s this energy source that drives and the leader only nurtures the energy source.

All this is based on profound authenticity. The purpose of the organization is not only a growth tool they use, it reflects the leaders OWN personal purpose and is deeply connected with his personal values. Purpose driven leaders are in touch with their own inner essence and are expressing it by serving their organizations purpose. The company’s vision is a big part of their own life vision.

Guided by this core philosophy these types of leaders typically are:
- Long-term goal oriented
- Inspirational and empathetic
- Ethical and value-based
- Courageous & resilient
- Strongly intuitive

They focus on
-  Aligning purpose & vision in the organization
-  Fostering a value-based culture
-  Developing other purpose-driven leaders
-  Driving sustainable innovation
-  Constantly building stakeholder support

All these facets are interrelated, and I will deep dive into this in a separate post. But any of their characteristics and behaviors are also highly authentic. It’s how they actually are and not because they follow a certain promoted leadership style (however "Authentic Leadership" as described by G. George, B. Avolio & F. Luthans is strongly reflected here)

Btw. these successful executives are not only great leaders, they are also effective managers (which is a different skill set) and also excel in their functional expertise. At a certain company size leading well is not enough to succeed.