Tweet

Purposeful Leaders Make Meaning

Guest post by: Jim Clemmer

Article Overview: In our organization and team development consulting at The CLEMMER Group, we often bring groups of people together to get their perspectives on strengths and weaknesses, improvement opportunities, and the like. One morning, I asked a group of very quiet production and service people a series of these questions. I was getting very few responses. This was going nowhere fast. Finally, one grizzled veteran sitting at the back of the room with his arms folded said, "Jim, I think you're confusing us with people who care."

Purposeful Leaders Make Meaning

"An essential factor in leadership is the ability to influence and organize meaning." - Learning to Lead, Warren Bennis and Joan Goldsmith In our organization and team development consulting at The CLEMMER Group, we often bring groups of people together to get their perspectives on strengths and weaknesses, improvement opportunities, and the like. One morning, I asked a group of very quiet production and service people a series of these questions. I was getting very few responses. This was going nowhere fast. Finally, one grizzled veteran sitting at the back of the room with his arms folded said, "Jim, I think you're confusing us with people who care."

Assuming we care (if not, we're in the wrong place), the leadership challenge - even obligation - is to help others care. In today's environment this is one of the toughest aspects of leadership. Partially, that's because of the wide spread "Victimitis Virus" - hopelessness and powerlessness from the poor-little-me-syndrome. Cynicism is also running wild as popular cartoon strips (and associated books) show nothing but the negative sides of organizational life and paint all managers as bumbling idiots.

Whole cultures can become infected with a lack of meaning and emptiness. Downsizing and lay-offs have also reduced loyalties and commitment. If we can't help others become ever more committed to the organization, we can help them increase their commitment to the organization's cause. This involves aligning the personal purpose and values of people with the team or organization's deeper reason for being.

At The CLEMMER Group, we try to express this essential leadership element through this values statement; "We're here to make the world a better place. Our overarching purpose is to make a difference in each other's lives and in the lives of those we serve. We maintain a healthy bottomline to provide financial strength and stability, but money isn't our primary focus. We know that if we serve our customers well and manage our business effectively, profits will be our reward."

In his book, Going Deep: Exploring Spirituality in Life and Leadership, psychologist, Ian Percy, outlines a very useful change or development framework. The PIES model helps to chart the depth of commitment to a personal, family, team, or organization change. The depth of the commitment shows how likely the change is to really make a lasting difference. The first, and most superficial level is Political. At this level appearances are everything. We make "politically correct" change and try to show that we will "get with the program." The next level of depth is Intellectual. Here's where a good business case or logical argument wins the day. Facts and analysis convince us that the change makes sense. Both of these first two levels deal with the head.

At the third level, Emotional, we're dealing with the heart. The change feels right. We want to make it happen because it excites us. The fourth, and deepest level, of commitment is Spiritual. We make the change because it is in step with our deeper selves. The direction of the family, team, or organization and its underlying purpose touches our very soul. At this level, Ian explains, "there is no gap and no separation between belief and action. The gap has been filled by the very essence of who you are. You and the object of your commitment have become one."

Queen bees give off a chemical substance that keeps the hive together. It has been called "the spirit of the hive." Few of us can sit around strictly as queen bees, although it is a tempting thought. We need to be worker bees as well. It's a balance issue. As we contribute our work to our team or organization, we also need to contribute a deeper sense of meaning or purpose. If we're going to be leaders, we need to take ourselves and others to the Emotional and Spiritual levels. Regardless of our formal role, we need to help build the spirit of the team or organization. This leadership comes from our own center. I can only contribute the spirit and meaning that I feel. I need to lead with all my heart and soul.

Related Articles
  Wisdom Is Knowing What We Don't Know
  CEO Speak Out
  Attracting Holding Good Trade Show Traffic
  Blogging
  Ten Characteristics of Leadership
  Purposeful Meditation
  Empathy Means Not Going It Alone
  Employee engagement -How do great leaders do it?
  'Purposeful Change': The Way Forward
  With All My Heart and Soul
  Self-Coaching Tip: Take 1-2 Minute Movement Breaks
  Integrating Purposeful Reflection and Performance
  What would your sales-role and business be like with less fear?
  Four Surprising Things That Will Grow Your Network (and Net-Worth) Now, from Tahl Raz?
  How to Motivate Yourself: Part 1
  Suffering from Business Burnout? COP's is Here To Help You!
  WHEN IS A COMPANY VISION REALLY NECESSARY?
  Smart Women Know What They Want
  To Tell the Truth
  How we can learn Master Sales lessons

Article Tags: leadership
Referred by: http://www.searchengineworkshops.com



Related Forum Posts
Re: Quote of the Day - "The only people witho - Thanks for sharing this Evan, there are some very powerful quotes in there, I particularly like this one:- You are now at a crossroads. This is your opportunity to make the most important decision you will ever make. Forget your past. Who are you now? Who have you decided you really are now? Don't think about who you have been. Who are you now? Who have you decided to become? Make this decision consciously. Make it carefully. Make it powerfully. regards, Mal.
Re: March 21 Triple Crown Update - Congratulations to the first three Leaders in the Forum category. Keep it up.
Re: Forums Question - Ok guys - the This Month's Leaders should now be working - thank you for pointing this out!
Re: Forums Question - test post to check for This Month's Leaders - no need to reply
Re: Forums Question - test post to check for This Month's Leaders - no need to reply


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Rumor Has It

Paint A Word Picture - Excite Your Customer

Work Place Counselling

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.