Clarifying the Purpose You Carry Into Your Leadership

 I was at a gathering of leaders last week when a speaker said something I have not been able to shake.

Only one in three leaders in the nonprofit world end well in their careers.

That stayed with me.

Here this leader was talking about how many leaders in the nonprofit sector carry a deep sens of meaning and that their purpose fuels their work. Yet, at the same time, most burnout and become disconnected from owning their purpose and incorporating it into their work in healthy and sustainable ways. 

My team and I work with many of these leaders. We coach them, walk alongside them, and create spaces for their growth. I care deeply about their flourishing. And as I sat there, I found myself thinking, while I am not surprised, I don’t want that to be true. Not for nonprofit leaders, not for public servants, not for anyone who feels called to lead.

I want leaders to end well.

There is a sentence that has quietly shaped my work for years.

I am on earth to nurture women and men to own and activate their purpose so they can thrive in all they are and do.

This is my own life purpose statement and it is why Leadership Center exists.

Fourteen years ago, I began to notice a pattern. Leaders were committed and capable, but over time many had become disconnected from the deeper meaning behind their work.They were not mobilized by their sense of purpose and they did not know how to activate it in others. 

One leader told me he felt deeply unhappy and exhausted from the daily grind. He tried doing more fun things with people. He made more money. None of it created the sense of fulfillment he was hoping for.

What he eventually realized was that the issue was not activity or success.

He had lost connection with the purpose behind his work.

Most leaders I meet today are navigating overwhelming demands. Their days are filled with urgent emails, decisions that need attention, and complex problems that drain them. The pace leaves little room to step back and reflect, especially on themselves. 

Good leaders find ways to move from urgent work to important work for the long-term sustainability of their organization. But great leaders stay connected to something deeper. They know their why. They understand the purpose that gives weight to their leadership and shapes how they show up each day.

The challenge is that in a world filled with urgency and noise, it is easy to lose connection with what matters most.

This is why we host a monthly Leadership Lab. It is a space for leaders to pause and connect with their work in new and meaningful ways.

This month, I will be guiding leaders through a process to help them begin putting words to the purpose they carry into their leadership. Participants will leave with a first draft of their Life Purpose Statement, a clearer understanding of the themes shaping their calling, and practical insight into how to live with purpose in any role or season.

For the month of March, we are offering the Leadership Lab free of charge. It is a simple opportunity to invite someone from your team to join you.

Because when leaders reconnect with their purpose, they do not just lead more effectively.

They lead in a way that allows them to create meaning throughout their careers and ultimately, finish well.