I wrote recently about the two priorities of organizations: “What we do” and “How we do it”.
And then, during a conversation in which I was congratulating a client who had been promoted to a senior leadership role in an international organization, he said to me, “Lance, I am now able to influence ‘Why we do things’”.
Of course! This is an insight that could only come from an enlightened and inspiring leader. Culture is everything in an organization, and culture consists of THREE things: WHAT we do, HOW we do it, and, most importantly, WHY we do it.
What stands out for me in my client’s short but profound comment is that we need leaders—in every aspect of life—who do things because there is a vital, world-improving reason for doing so. These are the leaders who inspire.
All the leadership development or training in the world can’t equal the leader’s passion for why we do something important, that will make a difference, and inspire us all.
Coach Lance,
I am so appreciative for this post! I, too, have recently been appointed to a key leadership position–for me, in a national education association. Our new president, himself an education and research pioneer (who started two months before I did), is challenging us–i would say, inspiring us–to work from a place of passion for our respective areas of expertise, and from love of member schools.
I’m going to share your post with him.
Thank you, Coach Lance
Very timely, as we work through our budgeting and planning exercises for 2014. The focus is typically on “what we do” and “how we do it.” However, to remain in that place feels hollow and forced. This post helped me re-member how important the “why” is to those we serve as leaders. Thanks, as always, for the inspiration.