The Power of Purpose in Leading Transformational Change

Rashmir Balasubramaniam
Founder of Nsansa

We live in a truly transformative age. Technology continues to disrupt our lives, our work, and our systems of governance. There are few problems we don’t have technical solutions for now. Traditional challenges in global health are being tackled. Global poverty has been reduced dramatically, giving rise to new challenges of distribution, inclusion and intra-country inequity. True democracy is becoming possible in a way it never was before. Radical transparency is now no longer a choice – it is a necessity. Intentionally or unintentionally causing harm to people and the planet is no longer tolerable. Sooner or later it will be found out and called out. Opportunities abound now for people all over the world to step away from traditional choices and the security of their tribes, and instead to follow their calling and larger purpose, causing schisms for those in more traditional societies.

Despite coming from a traditional society myself, I have been lucky to have experienced many different cultures and contexts from an early age. I have initiated, led and worked on many large and small transformational change projects across multiple countries and continents. From my work, it is clear that the more hierarchical approaches to change are no longer viable. Instead, leaders are being called to a new type of leadership – conscious and transformational leadership. Leaders are being called to inspire more, engage more, and co-create more. There is power in this, for it unleashes and harnesses the knowledge, wisdom and collective power of the group. It spurs people to greater responsibility and accountability for themselves and those around them. And it unleashes greater creativity, energy and momentum for positive human evolution and development.

This new kind of leadership that is being called for is not easy, but it is essential in this transitional age. There are several elements of effective transformational leadership, but perhaps none more important than purpose. Therefore, this article discusses the power of purpose for leaders of transformational change, and provides some suggestions on how to define your purpose.

1. Get clear on your purpose

This sounds obvious and easy, and yet everywhere I have worked, when I have asked leaders questions such as “what larger purpose are you serving?”, “what does success look like?”, “how will the world be different once you have realized your aim?”, etc. leaders have found it difficult to answer.

There are two primary reasons for this. Firstly, we all too often tend to get stuck on career treadmills that others have defined. We become accustomed to going where others have suggested we go, following the paths others have created. We have gotten used to aspirations that seem reasonable, allowable, and possible for us. We have been taught from an early age to conform and not to push too hard at the boundaries around us. And we have inadvertently subscribed to the cultural, familial and organizational stories that perpetuate this mindset of limitation and scarcity. As a result, when we find ourselves in leadership positions, we end up inadvertently pursuing the aims set out for us, rather than defining our own purposes.

Secondly, we have become creatures of doing. This is a particular challenge of the modern age, in which the protestant work ethic has taken over. We have come to believe that more doing and achieving will lead to success and fulfillment. However, when we get caught up in doing, we don’t take enough time to be, to reflect, or to connect with our deeper selves. It is only from a place of being that we can tap into our deepest “why”, our purpose, and our unique potential and destiny.

There is an additional purpose-limiting factor for emerging leaders from around the world – especially those of us from more traditional cultures. I have noticed that when I work in cultures that are still mired in survival mode, people don’t stop to ask themselves or each other why they do what they do. They don’t take time to inquire into their deepest motivations and passions. It seems like a luxury. It seems selfish and self-centered. It seems somehow superfluous. But I know from personal experience, that it is not a luxury, it is a necessity. It is absolutely essential if we are to do our best work in the world, and realize not just one, but multiple larger purposes that we uniquely can serve.

To lead effectively, you must get clear on the larger purpose you are serving. You must know to what end you are working. How will you make people’s lives better? How will your work address major local or global challenges? How will your leadership change the world?

“Definiteness of purpose is the starting point of all achievement.” ~ W. Clement Stone

2. Make sure your purpose is your own

Clarity of purpose is key, but it must come from you – from deep within you. It will become your guiding light. It will enable you to inspire and align others to your goals. And it will keep you clear, focused and energized when the going gets tough.

How do you find your personal purpose? In America, it is not uncommon for people to ask themselves “what is my passion?”, “what do I want to do with my life?”, “how might I follow my bliss?’. There is a sense of freedom and possibility in the US that allows people to pursue these questions, and to keep growing, evolving and expanding themselves and their dreams. In traditional cultures, there tends to be much less freedom, much less hope and possibility, and much less time or support for the deep internal reflection from which a true sense of personal purpose can arise. Instead there is pressure to comply with duty, and to confirm with cultural expectations and obligations, such as ‘settling down’ and living stable, secure and acceptable lives.

In traditional cultures, we have been led to believe that success is security and stability, success is following the few established and acceptable routes that exist for us, success is remaining safe within the cocoon of the tribe and all that is acceptable to the tribe. Even though migration has opened up new routes and new possibilities, many – particularly women, are still expected to conform to traditional routes and roles.

This was brought home to me during a recent trip to Sri Lanka, during which I took time to travel, to connect to people and place that felt important for me at this pivotal point in my life. During one conversation about family and how our lives had evolved, an Aunt looked at me quizzically and said: “but you have achieved everything you wanted to haven’t you?” I was stunned by her comment. Despite 20+ years of work, more than half of which has been focused on realizing a better world for all, the answer for me is a resounding no! I have barely begun. For until fairly recently, I have been serving other people’s paths and other people’s purposes – ones that were often worthy, but not truly my own.

My true work has only just begun. I know this because I have done a lot of hard work over the last few years to connect to my core ‘why’, my reason for being, the things that most move me and excite me, the things I can’t bear to see stay the same. It has been a long and arduous journey, but it has been an invaluable one – which is perhaps why I love helping people find and connect with their personal ‘why’.

Don’t get stuck in someone else’s purpose, or sense of what’s possible for you. Find and live your own dream. Take time to ask what you are doing here, why you are here, and what uniquely you have to contribute. Take time to explore what excites you and what brings you joy. When you find the answer and act on it, you will find that you come alive. You will more easily engage with your whole self in your work, with clarity and definiteness of purpose.

“Don’t ask what the world needs, ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” ~ Howard Thurman

3. Dare to dream big and fully commit to your dream

Have you heard people say that there is a lack of visionary leadership, or that we need more leaders with vision? I cannot tell you how many times I have heard this over my career. It always irks me, for it usually comes from leaders who can’t see or nurture the aspiring visionary leaders in their own organizations and communities. Instead, they reinforce the culture of conforming that suppresses those with the potential to be powerful, visionary leaders, and they inadvertently teach people not to articulate or step up to their larger dreams, their larger sense of purpose. So too many people get used to thinking small, acting small, and dreaming small – if they continue to dream at all. And as a result they plan and play at levels far below their potential.

I have experienced this myself in several organizations, and especially in those places where the stated or unstated mission of the organization did not resonate with me enough to stay and conform. As a result, when my intrinsic desire to learn and grow and experience was satiated in those places, it was an easy choice to move on to new challenges and growth experiences. Curiously I have also experienced this in organizations whose larger stated purposes have been akin to my own, but where the lived purpose and values were not aligned with the stated purpose or values. The resulting schism was confusing, painful, and difficult to get out of, but it also provided useful contrast. If you are in a situation like this, you can use the experience to learn and grow, and to contribute as best you can, while you clarify, expand and prepare for your own dream.

This is not just an organizational challenge. It can also play out among communities and countries. Sri Lanka is an interesting case in point. The country has been through tremendous turmoil over the last few decades. While there is peace now, there continues to be numerous political, economic, social and environmental challenges. However, what saddens me most is the lack of hope and the lack of larger purpose across the island. I was deeply struck to hear young people state that their aspirations were to leave Sri Lanka and get jobs overseas. No one I spoke to seemed to aspire for more. No one felt meaningful change was possible. Even though some things were getting better (e.g. the roads), there was an overwhelming sense of hopelessness, resignation and powerlessness pervasive throughout the country. Pride was at an all time low. A larger sense of purpose was completely missing. At this pivotal time, when visionary, purposeful leadership is being called for in Sri Lanka, most people, are not able to move beyond years of conditioning, constriction and fear.

By way of contrast, Martin Luther King rose to prominence at a similarly challenging and hopeless time for African Americans. He dared to dream big. He created hope when there was none. He inspired people to step up and act with boldness and courage, no matter what personal challenge they might face. He didn’t just have a vision of an end to violence and a better life for African Americans. He had a vast and expansive dream of true equality for all. He had a dream that was deeply rooted in the American dream and founding story, a dream of true freedom, prosperity and virtue for all. With his expansive dream he was able to inspire and instigate change and transformation. Because of his belief in and commitment to his dream, others were willing to step into their own hopes and dreams. They dared to stand up for what was right and true. They were willing to give their lives for a larger purpose, for their shared dream.

Dreaming alone is not enough. You must dream big. And when you do, you must truly commit to your dream. You must wholeheartedly commit to your larger purpose.

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.” ~ attributed to Goethe, but more likely an amalgamation of quotes

4. Stay connected with purpose

This is perhaps the hardest thing about purpose. For even though we may have a clear, compelling purpose that is truly our own, the reality of work and life is messy. It is so easy to get caught up in the doing, in the messiness of managing people, and in the daily fires that crop up, that we can easily lose sight of our purpose. When we do, the chances of getting off track increase. And if we aren’t keeping our purpose front and center, then chances are, no else on our team or among our key stakeholders is either.

So it imperative to find ways to keep purpose front and center. It can be pretty simple. Place a sticky note with your purpose on it on your computer. Write a daily reflection on progress made towards your purpose each day, and make this a daily ritual. Develop a visual representation of purpose that becomes a formal or informal logo or motto. Start each meeting with a restatement of purpose. Ask each member of your team to report progress or challenges in terms of how it relates to purpose. These small steps can help ensure every action taken is in furtherance of your larger purpose.

“Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare.” ~ Japanese Proverb

In summary, transformational leadership can be hard. Whether you are leading change as an entrepreneur, an intrapreneur or an innovator within a larger organization, or from a position of public service, you know it can be tough going. Often times those around you will not understand what you are doing, why you are doing it, or why you have decided to lead at this time. You may well encounter challenges and obstacles on a daily basis, particularly where social, cultural and political resistance are strong. So getting and staying clear on your unique purpose every day, every moment, and with every action is key. Stay connected to and committed to your purpose daily, and make sure you make progress each day – however small that day’s progress may be.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” ~ Lao Tzu

Profile:

Rashmir loves to work at boundaries and intersections. She is a global advisor, strategist, facilitator, educator and coach with over 20 years of experience working on market-based and multi-stakeholder strategies for realizing large scale change and transformation. She is a passionate speaker and advocate on leadership and personal development, sustainable development, creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship and whole systems transformation.

She is the Founder of Nsansa, a firm that advises and coaches funders, investors, entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs on creativity, innovation and market-based strategies for realizing transformational change. She is also the founder of LPDCoach.com, a startup that provides leadership and personal development services to global leaders and conscious (r) evolutionaries.

Rashmir always seeks to lift aspirations and build individual and group capabilities to realize important purposes. She has demonstrated the ability to build trust and consensus with diverse cultural and multidisciplinary teams, groups and organizations. And she is as comfortable working with the disenfranchised and the poor, as with politicians, investors, entrepreneurs and business leaders.

Rashmir spent five years at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where she led an initiative on private sector engagement and market-based solutions across the Global Health & Global Development programs. She drove strategy development and managed a diverse portfolio of grants for the foundation’s Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Program. She has worked with a wide range of organizations at global and local levels, including: International Planned Parenthood Foundation, PATH, Technoserve, World Bank, Hub (Seattle), Fledge (a conscious company incubator), and Startup Washington. Her work has ranged across water, sanitation, malaria, reproductive health, human resources for health, nutrition, agriculture, institutional development & social innovation/entrepreneurship ecosystem building.

Rashmir is an Adjunct Faculty member of the Foster School of Business, University of Washington and Bainbridge Graduate Institute. She has taught and mentored in a variety of other schools and programs, including Middlebury College, the Indian Institute of Sustainable Enterprise, and Fledge, a conscious company incubator. She is a Director of Sightline Institute, a sustainability think tank in the Pacific Northwest, and Humanosphere, a global health and development news blog.

Rashmir holds an MBA from Yale School of Management, a Diploma in Development Studies from University of London, and a BSc in Mathematics & Computer Science from University of Durham. A qualified Chartered Accountant (ICAEW), Rashmir also spent the first six years of her career in investment banking and finance in London with Ernst & Young, and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette.