Using Your Business Purpose to Make Things Happen
Leading a business can be both art and science at the same time. And while it should be straightforward, often it isn’t.
We may be successful, professional senior leaders and CEOs with talented teams but these days perhaps we’re leading teams who are fatigued and suffering from cabin fever, with many feeling isolated and missing connectivity with others.
Then there are the clients who may manifest impatience for results, perhaps not communicating as effectively as they normally would, and intolerant when solutions aren’t exactly what they envisaged, and so on.
If any of this sounds familiar, you might be asking what you can do. In situations like these one of my favourite quotes comes to mind, from the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche:
“He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how”.
Here’s a way to break that thought down into three parts and apply it in action, today:
1. Remembering The Why
Remember and reinforce your raison d’être: who are we as a business or team and why are we here? What is our organization’s purpose?
What does our defined purpose mean and how does it translate into the way we behave and operate, and what we do?
In practical terms, bring together the bright eyes to connect and lift the wider team and business, and create camaraderie, recognising that the greatest learning and growth typically come from adversity.
Many of my clients talk of their frustration of feeling like opportunities perhaps have been left on the table and the pace of growth and change not being as fast as they’d like. Uniting your team to become more purpose driven will result in improvements to products and services and ultimately deliver more to your bottom line.
2. Focus On What Really Matters
Start by removing noise and nice-to-haves that can distract everyone and everything.
In ocean yacht racing, focus is a simple matter: if you’re not focused, the feedback is instant and often life-threatening. What matters most becomes very clear, very quickly.
When I was part of a crew who sailed in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, a slip up while travelling at over 20 knots in heavy seas with heavy wind left us broaching at night, 3,000 miles from the nearest land in Brazil. Within three seconds of our error we were upside down with the boat rapidly filling with water. Quick, calm and purposeful action was needed to prevent disastrous consequences.
In business, however, feedback often isn’t forthcoming in the short term. It can take years to be felt and is not always as clear. With an ambitious entrepreneur and positive and willing senior team it is easy to keep adding activities to the priority list and tasks to the weekly deliverables, but with declining energy and productivity the result can be damaging – perhaps not as immediately perilous as broaching in the southern Atlantic, but over time the outcome can be just as grave: poor performance, team disengagement, long-term sickness and the consequent implications.
So cut the noise and create a sense of purpose and energy around the key focus areas.
3. Leverage Strengths To Create A Springboard Into The Future
At the same time, be appreciative and recognise the progress being made, even if it amounts to small steps.
The philosophy of former England rugby coach Clive Woodward was always to review the games won by the team and analyse and recognise all of the great things which players did in the game, and move away from what they were not happy with.
With this in mind, take the learnings and progress from adversity over the past year and use them as a springboard for the months and years to come.
In the ambiguous, uncertain and ever-changing times we are in, being appreciative and recognising every small step of progress helps us to see how small steps turn into a path forwards.
Discover What If…
…you apply the learnings from both philosophy and personal experience.
What counts in difficult moments such as the one we’re living through now is how we apply those learnings where it matters – in business every day.
Meet Kate Fletcher
I have 25 years’ experience transforming businesses, including as Commercial Director on the Board of a FTSE250 company. I’ve worked closely with over 150 Chairmen & women, CEO’s and senior executives.
I work with CEO’s, Boards, Leaders & their organisations. I work with clients 1-2-1 & as a group.
Working with me provides a different perspective & the benefit of a collective wisdom from others in the same boat.
Beyond work I’ve inspired & led winning teams, having sailed around the world & played national hockey. As a mum to two children, I also understand the reality of balancing family & career.
You can stay connected with me via LinkedIn or email me to arrange an exploratory conversation.
