One of the key insights offered from positive psychology research is that one of the three pathways to a happier life (and here I’m talking about subjective wellbeing, more than the presence of positive emotion!) is to allow a sense of purpose to guide your behaviour: – to allow meaning to permeate your life. (see Martin Seligman’s work on PERMA)
I recently viewed a TED talk event that reinforced the application of this. The talk was delivered Simon Sinek: How do Great leaders inspire action. Drawing on examples such as the success of Apple in constantly being more innovative that competitors, the fact the Wright Brothers achieved flight where others failed, the inspiration provided by Martin Luther King, Sinek made a strong case for the importance of starting with an answer to the question: “WHY”.
He said most people can easily answer questions about “what” they do or “how” they do it, but it is harder to find people who can clearly articulate “why” they act. The answer to the question “why” taps into concepts of purpose, values and meaning in life.
Sinek went on to say that if people know why they act then leadership success (and presumably business success) will follow. This is perhaps because we like doing business with people we relate to. We are more likely to follow someone, or to purchase the services from someone, where we why that person acts the way he or she does. (See Simon Sinek: How do Great leaders inspire action posted on May 2010)
In the business development space and in working with leaders I often challenge them to think about and better articulate what drives them, what motivates them, what needs they are trying to fulfil, what they value and how they express this. It is never too late to reflect on answers to these questions for yourself.
