The 5 Habits of Purpose-Driven Leaders
In the run up to Expo West, the ScalePassion team prepares you to get the most out of the event at which our own Rob Craven will deliver the Tuesday keynote.
Over 30 years of founding, running, and advising purpose-driven companies, I’ve identified a handful of habits that set inspirational leadership apart from the run-of-the-mill kind. They’re the kind of habits we aren’t born with but have to develop through trial and error and a bit of risk taking. In other words, purpose-driven leaders aren’t born overnight. They approach leadership as a craft and constantly seek ways to improve. Here are five of the ways:
They communicate clearly–Purpose-driven leaders communicate priorities, business goals, and purpose so that every member of their team knows what to do, how they fit into the business’s larger mission and purpose. They use every means possible to drive clarity on a daily basis through meetings, memos, voicemails, and casual conversations.
They live in integrity–Purpose-driven leaders live life “in integrity” that includes emotional intelligence, impeccable agreements, healthy responsibility, and conscious communication. They feel their feelings, keep their commitments, own their responsibilities, and speak the truth. Doing so removes the drama from decision making.
They act with intention: Purpose-driven leaders don’t live and die with every monthly or quarterly sales and revenue report. Instead, they take the long view of success and establish a work pace and plan for scaling the business that are both ambitious yet sustainable. They view budgets not as goals but as tools for achieving larger purposes.
They extend trust–Purpose-driven leaders mentor and empower their team to take on as much responsibility for the business’s operations as their talents and ambition permit. They understand that creating a leadership culture offers the surest path to let them focus their energies on growing the business rather than putting out daily fires.
They embrace abundance–While they passionately devote their focus and energy on the most important things to them, they believe in their agency as difference makers and surround themselves or attract similarly enthusiastic and high-energy teammates.
Do any (or all) of these habits sound like yours? You can actually quantify your purpose-driven leadership readiness using our personal Are You Ready To Scale assessment tool. It takes a minute to complete and is only as useful as the honesty with which you answer the questions.
Then, if you feel there is more work you can do to master leadership at the intersection of purpose and profit, connect with the ScalePassion team either online or at Expo West. And while you’re at it— investing in your own and your business’s futures—pre-order a copy of Scale Passion: A Blueprint for Scaling Purpose-Driven Business. We promise you’ll never think about your business or life the same way again.
