Purpose makes all the difference

Are you working on purpose?

Several years ago a corporate vice-president and director of financial planning for a global MNC issued a couple of simple questions to 25 of his colleagues: "How do you see me? What's my legacy?" He requested frank, honest responses from others about how they thought he might be remembered. Within 48 hours, 19 people responded. Our executive was surprised by the feedback. Hardly anyone mentioned his "hard" skills or his financial accomplishments.

Everyone talked about his "soft" skills, his interpersonal contributions and the positive difference he made to their lives. Our executive was, without knowing it, building a legacy.

Picture the working lives of two people who do the same work. One has a job that pays the bills, while the other, has a life's work that makes a positive difference in the lives of others. One drags out of bed most mornings feeling purposeless, tired, and stressed out. The other has a reason to get up in the morning and feels a sense of purpose and energy most days. The difference is that the latter is working on purpose and the other person is not.

Purpose is a deep concept. It is not a simple management or employee development technique. It's an issue reserved for the best talent in the world, those who are willing to engage the bigger questions that our work eventually presents to all of us. It's an issue for people who are not going to be sitting at their own retirement party wondering what it all added up to, why they worked so hard, and whether it was really worth it. Are you working on purpose? Does your current work feel like purposeful work? Reflect on the following statements. Answer yes or no.

" I wake up most work days and feel energised to go to work.

" I have a deep energy-feel a personal calling-for my work

" I am clear about how I measure my success as a person.

" I use my gifts to add real value to people's lives.

" I work with people who hold the same values I do.

" I speak my truth at work.

" I am experiencing true joy in my work.

" I am making a living doing what I most love to do.

" I can speak my purpose in one clear sentence.

" I go to sleep most nights feeling 'This was a well-lived day'.

The more "yes" answers you have, the more purposeful you feel your work is. If you have fewer than five yes answers, it is important to clarify what you believe your purpose is. What does this mean for managers and leaders?

Most talented people are attracted to places where they can work on purpose. Purpose inspires creativity and innovation.

Creating a purposeful work culture will require managers to seek clarification of their own compelling purpose and passionate vision.

The next step is to create an engagement strategy. Every change, no matter how large or small, will trigger questions in your top talent's mind.

The key to retaining your top talent is the purposeful relationship that you develop with them as a leader.

- Sanjiv Anand is the Managing Director and Rajesh Iyer is a Director at Cedar Management Consulting International.