What is a purposeful leader?

BySumeera
Two woman meeting and discussing

The Power of Purposeful Leadership

A purposeful leader has a well-defined sense of purpose or mission for themselves and their business.

They understand the “why” behind their work and can communicate it effectively to others.

What makes a truly great leader? A clear sense of purpose beyond profits.

Purposeful leaders aim to make a positive difference in the world. They inspire teams with their values and can help individuals connect their work to a larger, more meaningful goal. (see examples below)

So what defines purposeful leadership? This post explores the key traits, abilities, and principles of purposeful leaders – the kind of people and leaders, I work with here at sumodi.

Defining the Purposeful Leader

Purposeful leaders have a clear vision of their purpose – why they do what they do.

This sense of purpose guides their decisions and actions. Purposeful leaders want to change the world for the better. They are passionate about making an impact and inspiring others.

Key Values of Purposeful Leaders

Purposeful leaders live and lead by their values:

  • Integrity – They are honest, trustworthy and put people first.
  • Passion – They are truly excited about their vision and work.
  • Courage – They take risks and stand up for their beliefs.
  • Humility – They listen to and learn from others.
  • Empathy – They understand people’s needs and help them succeed.

Critical Skills of the Purposeful Leader

Purposeful leaders also possess key skills that help them translate purpose into action:

  • Communication – To clearly share the vision that energises teams.
  • Decision Making – To make choices aligned with their values.
  • Problem Solving – To address root causes and implement solutions.
  • Team Building – To unite people around shared goals.
  • Adaptability – To adjust their style to the situation.

Principles for Leading with Purpose

Purposeful leaders follow principles that help them lead powerfully:

  • Clarify purpose – Articulate a concise, inspiring vision.
  • Live values – Make decisions consistent with beliefs.
  • Empower others – Encourage teams to develop talents.
  • Celebrate wins – Recognise progress and motivate people.
  • Learn from mistakes – Use setbacks as growth opportunities.

Examples of Purposeful Leaders

Many leaders today embody purposeful leadership:

  • Arianna Huffington champions workplace wellness and mental health.
  • Jeff Bezos keeps customer obsession and sustainability as Amazon’s north stars.
  • Tony Robbins aims to help people discover their true potential.
  • Jacinda Ardern – The Prime Minister of New Zealand is lauded for her empathetic and compassionate leadership style. She focuses on issues like climate change, affordable housing, and reducing child poverty.
  • Satya Nadella – The Microsoft CEO transformed the company culture to be more team-oriented, innovative and purpose-driven. He champions technology that empowers people.
  • Rosalind Brewer – The CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance aims to make healthcare more accessible and affordable. She advocates for diversity and inclusion in business.

The world needs more purposeful leaders who make a difference.

If you’re not already one, (you don’t need to be) by finding your purpose and leading with authenticity, courage, and care, you’ll be a purposeful leader. Our businesses, communities, and planet will be better for it.

From doing a bit more research via AI tools – here are a few more UK purposeful leaders:

  • Paul Polman – The former CEO of Unilever focused on sustainability and responsible business practices. He pushed for reducing plastic waste and carbon emissions.
  • Richard Branson – The Virgin Group founder is known for his adventurous spirit and pursuit of social good. His non-profit Virgin Unite tackles issues like criminal justice reform.
  • Dame Vivian Hunt – The senior partner at McKinsey & Company co-founded the 30% Club campaign to increase gender diversity on boards and in leadership roles.

In technology

Here are examples of purposeful leaders in technology:

  • Brad Smith – As President of Microsoft, he champions principles like privacy, ethical AI, and accessibility. He supports non-profits addressing societal issues.
  • Susan Wojcicki – The CEO of YouTube works to balance open expression with responsibility. She strives to empower creators and lift underrepresented voices.
  • Tim Cook – The Apple CEO stands up for human rights, renewable energy, and data privacy. He aims to create innovative products that positively impact lives.
  • Reed Hastings – The co-founder of Netflix promotes organisational transparency and integrity. He also supports educational initiatives like charter schools.
  • Rashmi Sinha – The CEO of SlideShare encouraged knowledge sharing and inclusivity. She also co-founded a VC fund to back underrepresented founders.

Purposeful leadership is needed now more than ever.

The world faces complex challenges that require leaders driven by meaning, not just profits. Purposeful leaders have a clear sense of their core mission to make a positive difference in the world. They live and lead with integrity, courage, empathy, and humility.

Purposeful leaders empower teams, celebrate wins, learn from mistakes, and adapt to change. They articulate an inspiring vision and stay true to their values in all decisions. We see purposeful leaders emerging across sectors – from social justice to sustainability to education access.

You don’t have to be in a top role to lead with purpose.

Start by getting clear on your own core values and sense of mission. Then find ways, both big and small, to bring more purpose into your work and life. Lead by example through your everyday actions.

When more people commit to purposeful leadership, organisations, communities, and planet will thrive.

Sumodi offers purposeful marketing services and support to help conscious business leaders and entrepreneurs maximise their business and growth. The time for purpose is now.