Do you know what drives you in a certain direction or to achieve certain things? Early in my career, I wasn’t aware of anything driving me or pushing me in a specific direction. I gravitated towards things I enjoyed doing and things that provided opportunity for me. It was all about achieving my short-term goals.   

Probably 25 years into my 30-year career at Boeing, I was sitting in an audience at the American Society for Quality (ASQ) Convention, listening to Simon Sinek talk about his book, Start with Why. As he talked, I realized that many of the things I was drawn to had actually been driven by my unconscious sense of purpose. 

A person’s purpose in life is also known as their “why,” and is the reason something / someone exists or the reason that something is done. Each person’s purpose is unique to them and is based on their individual beliefs, values, personal experiences, etc., My unique “why” was inside me and driving my choices and actions long before I even thought about the concept of purpose. 

I discovered my “why” over time by thinking about what is meaningful to me, why I do what I do, what drives me, and what have I gravitated towards throughout my life. My personal “why” statement is: Making a positive difference in others’ lives. When I discovered my “why” it felt like a huge revelation and at the same time familiar and obvious.  

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Identifying your “why”‍

Here is a simple, 5-step process to follow to help identify your “why”

1. Practice self-awareness and introspection – spend time reflecting / journaling
2. Think about when you felt a sense of meaning in your life, work or activities
3. Think about who you are serving or influencing in your life
4. Think about your desired impact
5. Bring all of the above into a single purpose statement and work with that statement until it feels like the “why” that inspires you to continue

Identifying your “why” may not be a one-time exercise. In fact, it may happen over a period of time. Once you identify your “why” it may require revisiting it several times to refine it.

How your “why” connects with leadership

Identifying your “why” can be personally impactful, but how does it impact you as a leader? 

Leadership is the ability to inspire and motivate people to action. In the Introduction section of his book, Start With Why, author Simon Sinek talks about “a naturally occurring pattern, a way of thinking, acting and communicating that gives some leaders the ability to inspire those around them.” His premise is that inspirational leaders always start with “why.”

As early as high school, I remember gravitating towards leadership roles. I loved being involved in many things and helping others, and I did things that I enjoyed or that gave me opportunities to lead. But I wouldn’t have told you that I wanted to be a leader, it was other people who saw me as a leader. Being in leadership positions from a young age and working with and observing leaders throughout my life gave me a lot of experiences and insights. Through those, I developed a natural passion for leadership. 

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Purpose and passion create powerful missions 

Bringing my purpose together with my passions for excellence and leadership helped me to focus how I spent my time and what I was working towards. While applying my purpose in all areas of my life, I found that when I combined my purpose and passions I achieved more. Studies have shown, people who have a sense of purpose are happier, more resilient and tend to be more successful because there is a direct alignment between their purpose and the actions they take.

Once you have determined your purpose/why, you can expand that into your personal mission statement. A mission statement is part of what we call at Seasons Leadership the Foundational Leadership Triad. It includes these three elements: 
Vision - What you want to move towards
Mission - Why you exist or do what you do
Values - How you show up and do what you do

As an example, I took my “why” statement or purpose: Making a positive difference in others’ lives,” and thinking about it combined with my passions of leadership and excellence, created my personal mission statement: Partnering with leaders to help them overcome obstacles and become excellent leaders.

This approach works for leadership teams as well as it does for individuals. For example, when Susan and I formed Seasons Leadership, we created our Foundational Leadership Triad including our mission to: Inspire and partner with individuals, teams and organizations to increase and accelerate leadership excellence. This mission aligns with each of our personal mission statements and helps us collectively focus our business on “why” we exist. 

It is important to keep both your “why” statement and your personal mission statement in front of you and refer to them often. Review and refine them over time as your role or circumstances change.

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Congruence between your “why” and your work keeps you motivated.

Motivation is the reason(s) for acting or behaving in a particular way, the general desire or willingness to do something, and the force that guides our behaviors. It is generally split into two categories: extrinsic (derived from pleasure or rewards) and intrinsic (the value we find in our own work). People may be motivated either extrinsically or intrinsically, or both. Congruence with your “why” keeps you intrinsically motivated. 

I was motivated by my “why” of making a positive difference in others’ lives, even before I could name it. Once I named my “why” it motivated me even more. It helped me decide what I wanted to do once I had retired from Boeing and I was able to focus my purpose and passions in a way that continues to motivate me. 

Motivated leaders understand that their own motivation is a powerful tool for inspiring others. By cultivating their own motivation in congruence with their “why,” they can create a positive, productive work environment. 

I wish I had known earlier about the power of identifying and living in congruence with my “why,” even though it was guiding me before I named it. Once I named it and understood it as my purpose, I have been able to accelerate my actions and live more purposefully. 

Want more leadership insights like this? Check out our website at www.SeasonsLeadership.com.