On the Importance of Purpose and Passion for Leaders

Posted on 10. May, 2011 by Shawn Murphy in 1 Leadership

Have you ever thought to yourself, “Where in the world am I going?” At one point it seemed merely a philosophical question about life that never needed an answer. Not answering the question wasn’t the first mistake; it’s not taking the question seriously and declaring the answer. Over the past four months the question has been like a homing device – calling out demanding an answer. And the beeping from the device will not stop until one is satisfactorily declared.

Where to start declaring an answer that grabs you, pulls you in and shouts, “Yes! This is what I’m about.” To have such clarity pulls you forward guiding you in the journey that is your life.

Such clarity is at the core of all great leaders. It serves as a barometer for personal and professional decisions, adds a shade of lightness to the ambiguity, and is an anchor for character, for starters.

Stripping away all the fantastic language, what I’m really getting at is purpose and passion – clarity in both. And for leaders in business, communities, families, churches, teams or wherever, it is no longer acceptable that the question of one’s direction is treated as philosophical.

Today and future leaders must do the personal work to powerfully declare in their beliefs, actions, and words where they are going in life. And to inform such an answer is to have clarity on your purpose in life and what ignites your passion.

For some of you, this is a daunting task. And for that, I want to share a few resources that I’m using to finally declare my answer. It’s time to be busy about aligning my purpose and passion with my work and in my relationships. This is necessary to ensure I complete what I’m meant to complete with greater fluidity.

“It’s not enough to be busy,” said poet Henry David Thoreau. “…the question is: ‘What are we busy about?” I ask you, where are you going in life? And are you busy doing the things that get you there?

Resources to help with purpose and passion: