Tag: Purposeful Organisations

Complexities of Purposeful Organisational Leadership (Purposeful Leadership – Part 11)

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Business, Leadership, purpose, Purpose Quest, purposeful leadership, Purposefulness, Team Excellence, ValuesLeave a comment

In the previous article, we explored how to develop purposeful organisational leadership. In this post, we focus on the complexities of purposeful organisational leadership and potential remedies.

Organisations do not become purposeful by proclamation; they become purposeful by orchestration. And orchestration is complex. It asks leaders to conduct a score that balances markets and meaning, governance and grace, pace and patience. If purposeful people leadership is the dance with paradox at the human scale, then purposeful organisational leadership is that paradox amplified across systems. The stakes are higher, the variables multiplied, the pressure relentless. Yet the beauty is also greater, because purposeful organisations can hold the space where profit and flourishing meet.

The first complexity is when the purpose is only a brand. Organisations often craft eloquent purpose statements, then proceed to pursue them with methods that quietly contradict the message. Purpose is not merely narrative; it is action. When we violate this principle, people quickly learn that the banner on the wall is not the truth on the floor. To lead purposefully at the organisational level, we must ensure that strategy, structure, systems, and culture are not just aligned conceptually, but coherent behaviourally. This coherence is evident in how we behave, especially when performance pressures intensify.

Continue reading “Complexities of Purposeful Organisational Leadership (Purposeful Leadership – Part 11)” →

Developing Purposeful Organisational Leadership (Purposeful Leadership – Part 10)

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Business, Communications, engagement., Leadership, purpose, purposeful leadership, Purposefulness, ValuesLeave a comment

In the previous article, we explored what purposeful organisational leadership means and why it matters. In this post, we focus on how leaders can intentionally develop purposeful organisational leadership, turning purpose from a statement into a lived reality across the organisation.

Start with Leadership Commitment

“I hold the view that leaders are better able to contribute to the flourishing of life if their actions are guided by a deeper sense of purpose” (De Silva, 2024, p.6). Therefore, purposeful organisational leadership needs to begin at the top. Senior leaders must embrace the organisation’s purpose as a guiding principle for decisions and behaviours. This commitment is not symbolic; it requires courage to prioritise purpose even when short-term pressures tempt compromise.

Make the Organisational Purpose Your Guiding Light

The starting point for developing purposeful organisational leadership is a clear purpose statement. This is not a marketing slogan; it is the organisation’s reason for being and its unique contribution to the flourishing of life. From this foundation, leaders can craft a mission statement that defines how the purpose will be delivered and set Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAGs) to drive long-term success.

Continue reading “Developing Purposeful Organisational Leadership (Purposeful Leadership – Part 10)” →

Purposeful Organisations (Purposeful Leadership – Part 9)

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Business, Leadership, purpose, purposeful leadership, Purposefulness, societal, Team Excellence, ValuesLeave a comment

In the previous articles, we explored the first two branches of purposeful leadership: self and people. In this post, we turn to the third and final branch, purposeful organisations. If purposeful leadership begins with the individual and extends to teams, its ultimate expression is in organisations that are guided by purpose rather than vision.

Beyond Vision: Why Purpose Matters

Traditional organisations often define themselves through vision statements, aspirations of what they want to become. While visions can inspire, they are frequently inward-looking, focused on growth, dominance, or profitability.

Purposeful organisations, by contrast, start with a deeper question: Why do we exist? The answer is not about market share or shareholder value; it is about contribution to the flourishing of life. “Flourishing workplaces require the re-creation of organisations to give life to a truly postmodern era of collaboration in order to facilitate organisations to flourish on this planet for future generations” (De Silva, 2024).

Purpose is not an add-on, like corporate social responsibility (CSR). It is not a department or a project. It is the organising principle of the entire enterprise. Every policy, process, and decisions flow from the purpose. Every role is designed to serve it. Every strategy is evaluated against it. Purpose becomes the compass that guides the organisation through daily decisions, complexities and change.

Continue reading “Purposeful Organisations (Purposeful Leadership – Part 9)” →

Developing Purposeful People Leadership (Purposeful Leadership – Part 7)

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn happiness, Leadership, Life, Personal Excellence, purpose, purposeful leadership, Purposefulness, Spiritual, ValuesLeave a comment

In the previous article, we explored the concept of purposeful people leadership and its importance. In this post, we delve into how leaders can intentionally develop purposeful people leadership, an approach that transforms teams and organisations by aligning individual purpose with collective contribution.

Purposeful people leadership begins with the leader’s own sense of purpose. When leaders connect their role to their higher purpose, they begin to see their primary responsibility not just as managing tasks, but as developing their team members, purposefully. This shift in perspective changes everything. The team is no longer a means to an end; it becomes the very reason for leadership. The leader’s purpose expands to include helping team members discover their own purpose and align it with meaningful roles.

This development process starts with purposeful conversations. Leaders engage with team members to understand their aspirations, strengths, struggles, concerns about their world and values they aspire to live by. They help individuals reflect on their personal purpose, articulate a purpose statement and explore how it can be expressed through their work. When people are placed in roles that resonate with their purpose, they flourish. Their contribution becomes authentic, passionate, and sustainable.

Continue reading “Developing Purposeful People Leadership (Purposeful Leadership – Part 7)” →