Week 3: Employee Purpose

Welcome to Coffee and Culture, where I have 60 seconds or less to give you one pragmatic thing that you can do this week to improve your company culture.

What’s your employee purpose? If you were to summarize what your employee purpose is, what would it be? Have you thought about your employee purpose and the intersection with you and your career? It might not be obvious, but it’s there.

Why is employee purpose so important​

Let’s look at some numbers, shall we?

  1. Employees with a strong sense of purpose are 64% more likely to find fulfillment in their work, according to a study by Imperative and New York University. This sense of fulfillment can lead to increased productivity and engagement. (Source: Imperative)

  2. According to research by Harvard Business Review, employees who find meaning and purpose in their work experience a 125% increase in work effectiveness, as well as increased engagement and job satisfaction. (Source: Harvard Business Review)

  3. A survey by Deloitte found that 73% of employees who work for a purpose-driven company are engaged, compared to just 23% of those who work for a company without a strong sense of purpose. Engaged employees are more productive and contribute more to the success of the company. (Source: Deloitte)

  4. In a study by EY and Oxford Economics, companies with a strong sense of purpose were found to have higher levels of innovation and customer loyalty, as well as greater financial performance. Purpose-driven companies also had higher levels of employee engagement, which can lead to increased productivity. (Source: EY)

Share your employee purpose with your team​

Sharing your personal purpose with your team can have a significant impact on their motivation and engagement levels. When employees understand what drives their leaders, it creates a sense of trust and transparency that can strengthen the relationship between the leader and the team. This, in turn, can increase employee loyalty, productivity, and job satisfaction.

In addition to sharing your purpose with your team, it’s also important to understand the purpose of your team members. Taking the time to listen to their aspirations and goals can help you align their individual purpose with the company’s mission and values. This can lead to a more engaged and motivated workforce that feels connected to the organization’s larger purpose.

Another benefit of sharing your purpose with your team is that it can help create a culture of purpose within the organization. When employees see that their leaders are driven by a larger purpose beyond profits, it can inspire them to adopt a similar mindset. This can lead to a workforce that is not only more engaged and productive but also more socially conscious and responsible.

Moreover, creating a culture of purpose can attract top talent to the organization. Creating a culture of purpose means having a clear and compelling reason for existing beyond just making profits. When a company’s values align with the values of potential employees, it can attract top talent who are seeking more than just a job. Purpose-driven organizations are seen as more attractive and trustworthy, which can help attract and retain the best employees. This can also help to increase employee satisfaction, engagement, and productivity, ultimately leading to greater success for the company.

By creating a culture of purpose, organizations can not only improve their employee engagement and productivity but also their reputation and ability to attract and retain top talent. So, take the time to share your purpose with your team this week and encourage them to do the same. By doing so, you can create a more engaged and purpose-driven workforce that is invested in the success of the organization. And don’t forget to tune in next week, where we will discuss the importance of leadership vision and how it can help drive organizational success.