The most outstanding and most successful leaders in today’s modern world all agree on one thing: companies with a clearly defined purpose always outperform companies that do not have a purpose. While there are many reasons why that’s the case, the bigger and more important question here is: how can you find the purpose, or “why” of your business?
In this post, we’ll go over the essential questions you must ask yourself to discover what your why is and how you can use it to fuel your productivity.
5 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF TO FIND YOUR WHY
When you’re looking for your why, you’re looking for what gets you going on an emotional level. But given that the “why” questions tend to evoke emotions among us, it’s difficult for us to translate those emotions into words. That’s why to find your why, you should be asking “what” questions. Here are five “what” questions you can ask yourself to figure out your purpose:
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What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning?
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When people come to you for help, what do they need from you?
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What unique strengths and skills do you have that come easily to you?
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Which parts of your profession do you find meaningful?
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What legacy do you want to leave behind?
Take your time to find the answer to these questions. Scribble in a journal or think out loud — do whatever it takes for you to find the answers to these questions. Because once you’ve found the answers, then your why will be apparent.
HOW TO USE YOUR WHY IN BUSINESS
In a recent study conducted by Deloitte, it was found that “purpose-driven companies witness higher market share gains and grow three times faster on average than their competitors, all while achiever higher workforce and customer satisfaction.” Thus, there’s no arguing that you need to integrate purpose into your organization’s culture ASAP. But how?
Once you have defined your why, simply make it the center focus of everything you and your team are working towards. Relate all of your projects, KPIs, and meetings to your purpose. Make it evident how everything you’re doing is feeding that “why.”
This will help you stay focused and eliminate tasks that don’t tie in with your purpose. Essentially, you will be able to use your why as a filter for what you and your team should be focusing on.
To conclude, we’ll leave you with a quote from German philosopher Frederick Nietzsche:
“HE WHO HAS A WHY CAN ENDURE ANY HOW.”
Knowing your why is the first step in figuring out how you are going to achieve the objectives you set for yourself and your business. It’s what will get you started and make you most likely to achieve your goals.