The Future of Work: Creating Purpose-Driven Organizations

Finding purpose at work doesn’t mean you have to work in the rainforests of the Amazon protecting endangered wildlife. Purpose can be found in any position, because it has to do with how you approach a job, not the specific nature of the job.

To learn more about this new approach to work, let’s look at Imperative, an organization started by Aaron Hurst that is committed to changing the nature of work by deeply interlacing purpose with work. Imperative believes purpose at work can be found in three categories:

1. Creating a positive impact: Make concrete near and long term impact on the world

2. Connecting with other people by building meaningful relationships: Work with and help others who appreciate you

3. Achieving continued personal growth: Get support toward exploring your personal interest and goals

How Can Leaders Start Integrating Purpose Into Their Organizations?

On a basic level, leaders can first define their personal values, then, move on to clarifying the values and purpose of their organization, and finally look at the organization as a whole through this lens of attracting, hiring and retaining their talent. Leaders must make purpose a fundamental piece of each step of their own, and their team’s, talent life cycle.

Four Ways to Create a Purpose Driven Organization

1. Create a “purpose review” in addition to a performance review, to help the organization know if the employee still feels purposeful at work.

2. Find ways to increase organizational trust and transparency, where mistakes are applauded and difficult conversations are rewarded.

3. Attract, hire and retain prospective employees and freelancers by emphasizing the importance of their growth, impact and peer relationships.

4. Redefine the organizational chart and office space, so it reflects purpose driven conversations, instead of just departmental conversations.

Source:

http://economicdevelopment.org/2015/03/the-future-of-work-creating-purpose-driven-organizations/