Leading with Purpose

Three years ago, I was allowed to lead this wonderful group of humans. I stood before the leaders and expressed my desire to take the group to new levels and set long-term, ambitious goals. However, most of them looked at me as if I had grown three heads and needed to have my brain analyzed by doctors (they still might be right on this). The truth is, I believed in these goals, but I also had my doubts. They were ambitious. I was determined to give it my all, knowing that the team had much more potential than they could see in themselves at the time. My job was to help them overcome self-imposed barriers and limits. I needed to empower them and allow their creative intelligence and skillset to flourish while creating safe boundaries to protect us from being reckless. I knew this would be a delicate balance, especially in a highly competitive industry and a society prioritizing speed and immediate outcomes.

Here are a few things I have learned along this journey:

1.        The "WHY" matters. Business is tough. If you don't have a clear understanding and can't explain why you come to work every day, why you want to grow, your mission and values, etc., and how it positively impacts employees, customers, the industry, and the community, the tough days become even harder, and it's easier to lose your way during challenges.

2.        Be intentional.  This does not mean always getting it right; it means always trying to get it right. At the end of the day, we will only sometimes get it right. All we can do is make the best decisions with the information we have at the time, guided by what is right and wrong and our core values. Often, things will work out, but only if you take intentional actions with the purpose of reaching your end goal.

3.        You don’t have to know the answer to own the result. It is human nature to think I should know the answers if I lead. As I have learned and grown as a leader, this could not be further from the truth.  What sets great leaders apart is the ability to navigate situations where the answers are unclear with confidence, humility, and a commitment to accountability.

4.        Failure is success. It is not that we are actively out searching or trying to fail, but failure shows signs of getting out of your comfort zone.  Failures done with good intention and sound logic with information you had at the time should be celebrated – at a bare MINIMUM, we learn – which is always a good outcome.  I have also found that, more often than not, with a good plan and a good team, success is the result. Embracing uncertainty and pushing limits will fail at times, and that's ok.  Not trying out of fear is the most significant "failure" we can have.

5.        Be flexible. Be willing to adapt as new information and things change – it is essential to have a plan, but it is also ok to change that plan.  Many plans and things have changed throughout the last few years.  If we were so rigid on the "way things were supposed to go" or "that's not how we planned it," we would have missed many opportunities that propelled our organization forward. You should have a list of objectives but be agile enough to prioritize that list and adapt to seize opportunities.

6.        A big goal should be a series of small goals. Long-term vision is imperative – however, it is just dreaming without intentional actions along the way with smaller obtainable goals.  In construction, we often build a project with a schedule. That schedule has levels to it as the project is being built.  In the beginning, we need to know what we are trying to build, but I don't need to know step by step how the last two weeks of the project need to go. You have high-level milestones along the way, and if done correctly, you have 2-4 weeks to "look aheads" for the next 2-4 weeks.  These lookaheads have smaller goals that contribute to the overall goal of getting the project built.  It is continued look at what is obtainable in the new future along the way to the overall larger goal.

7.        Communication, communication, communication. It is cliché to say you can't over-communicate.  There is a reason cliches exist.  This couldn't be truer when it comes to leading a large organization. Especially when communicating long-term goals/vision, I think you have to say and talk about this until it feels like you have said it so many times that people are tired of hearing it – and then say it about 100 times more.

8.        Results matter, eventually. People often underestimate the time it takes for significant change to occur. Today, we live in a culture of instant gratification.  That's just not how it works in leading a business. Some of our results this year or last are from efforts or things put in place 2-3 years ago. Multiple efforts contributed to those results. Whether that be a process improvement, investing in an employee and giving them an opportunity, or finding new ways to motivate a team.  It is hard to say which of these things drove the result, and at the end of the day, does it matter?  It probably took a little bit of all of it.  

9.        Stay consistent. As leaders, our actions speak louder than words. Consistency means aligning our behaviors with our values and commitments. Whether adhering to deadlines, upholding ethical standards, or demonstrating respect for others, consistently modeling the behavior we expect from our teams builds credibility and trust.

10.   Lead by example. Leadership is not about authority; it's about influence. Leading by example sets the tone for the entire team. Demonstrating integrity, resilience, and a commitment to excellence inspires others to do the same.

One thing that has been enlightening as I reflect on the last few years is that, yes, I am proud of what this team has accomplished—a record number of employees, serving a record number of clients, and continually exceeding our financial targets. It is truly inspiring. The best part about it is not the results (which, again, are great!), but the journey along the way has been the truly fulfilling part. 

I encourage all of you in a similar situation to commit to leading with intention and purpose. In doing so, we unlock the full potential of ourselves, our teams, and the world around us—just don't forget to enjoy the journey along the way!