HBR IdeaCast Why People — and Companies — Need Purpose
Apr 9, 2019
Nicholas Pearce, a clinical associate professor at Kellogg School of Management and author of "The Purpose Path," discusses the importance of purpose in both individual careers and organizational missions. He argues that purpose-driven companies outperform profit-centric ones and advocates for aligning personal values with work to enhance happiness. Pearce explores how leaders can cultivate a genuine sense of purpose, emphasizing its vital role in employee engagement and overall profitability, rather than seeing it as a fallback for struggling businesses.
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Purpose Alignment
- The best companies align their purpose with their employees' individual purposes.
- Purpose-driven companies attract employees who prioritize purpose over salary.
Lack of Purpose
- Pearce asked 50 top leaders of a global company about their purpose, and they struggled to answer.
- They initially said their purpose was to remain in existence, highlighting a lack of deeper meaning.
Purpose and Identity
- Finding purpose is equally challenging for individuals and organizations.
- Individuals can leverage philosophical and theological thought to explore their purpose.
