Leading with Purpose.
This article is part of Finding the Words, a newsletter that delivers practical insights on the day’s issues.
Have you ever read something that lit a spark in you? Maybe it even prompted you to ask: “What if…?”
That’s exactly what happened when I read Simon Sinek’s book Start with Why. I was just a few years into business ownership, wrestling with how to show up authentically as a business owner, constantly feeling that I was playing a part that didn’t suit me.
And then I found Sinek’s words:
“In everything you do,” he said, “find a mission or a goal more important than money, and that ignites your passion. Steve Jobs was passionate about computer technology. He wasn’t the best at creating computers, but he was the most passionate. Good ideas will have to go from your head to your heart. Ideas without heart will quickly be forgotten.”
That was it. An acknowledgment that doing business differently—guided by purpose, not profit—was not only acceptable, but it could be transformational.
It was around that time that I was also introduced to an emerging effort called the B Corp movement, in which business leaders were choosing to make decisions that could advance the common good, not just the narrow interest of shareholders. In these last 10 years, the B Corp movement has been a powerful proof point that successful businesses can put people over profit and successful businesses can be run with head and heart.
Don't underestimate what's possible when your head and heart are aligned.
Last year alone, Mission Partners:
Supported 40+ purpose-driven organizations, advancing breakthroughs in public health, higher education, sustainability, democracy, journalism, and the arts.
Re-engineered the traditional compensation model in service of transparency and pay parity and rolled out a new core competencies model that further reduces bias in the hiring and promotions process.
Expanded our groundbreaking Social Entrepreneur in Residence program to address the racial disparity among communications agency owners.
Published national research that examined the role of executive communication in advancing business strategies and the public good.
Authored a best-selling book on courageous communications and hosted 2 more seasons of our award-winning podcast, Mission Forward.
And, we furthered our commitment to building a work environment where mental health and well-being are prioritized. We were recognized with a Platinum Bell Seal from Mental Health America for this effort.
With head AND heart, we’ve challenged business as a force for good. We've partnered with our colleagues, clients, and community to move missions forward. And we've kept purpose at our core. Operating at this level of accountability is not easy, and it requires deep introspection. But for Mission Partners, it’s become essential as we aim to model the kind of business that I couldn’t have imagined when I was starting out—the kind of business that others told me would fail. Instead, purpose guided us here.
Bottom Line: In business, as in life, there will always be shortcuts. But, just as there are shortcuts, there are also opportunities to examine the work more closely: to examine the process, to consider the construct, and to reimagine the outcome. Don't underestimate what is possible when you let your head and heart align. You may just find your greatest sense of purpose.
This post is part of the Finding The Words column, a series published every Wednesday that delivers a dose of communication insights direct to your inbox. If you like what you read, we hope you’ll subscribe to ensure you receive this each week.
