This was my comment on the article that introduced the crunch time report. What happens when personal purpose and strategic narrative align
Ali 21 May 2012
Thanks for highlighting this new report.
Whilst I agree this is not a brand new concept, this is a good example of how important intrinsic motivators are. In the 2009 Engaging for Success report to government by David MacLeod and Nita Clake, Strategic Narrative was demonstrated to be one of the 4 enablers of engagement.
Strategic Narrative is all about where an organisation has come from, where they are now and where we are going. Examples of what this looks like, and how this can be brought to life are being shared on the new website currently being built.
I would suggest that when an individual can link the organisational story to their own personal mission in life (if they a lucky enough to know what that is) then it can have a very powerful effect. From a purely personal and anecdotal perspective I can tell you that power that this has had for me in my work at Grass Roots and also most recently Engage for Success (the movement that has been born from the Employee Engagement Task Force.)
Both Grass Roots and the movement have a very strong purposes. Grass Roots exists to inspire people and the movement believes there is a better way to work, a better way to enable personal growth, and ultimately growth for Britain by releasing more of the capability and potential of people at work.
I am able to link these aims to my personal purpose and this makes a huge difference. It fuels the inspiration and ideas that come to me, which I have an incredibly strong committment to act up on, even in the face of obstacles and challenges.
It is what generates the grit to get through the mundane bits of the job (we all have them!). It provides the energy to keep going when otherwise I might tire. It is why I get up every morning and jump out of bed ready to make a difference!
It's different from being 'addicted' to work because it is not 'compulsive' but free flowing and the other aspects of my life are just as important to me and receive equal amounts of my energy.
Although I don't think I am the only one who feels like this, there are many who have don't have this connection and as a result feel drained and exhausted by their work.
That is not good for the individual, the organisation or the country.
This is not the only thing that matters or makes a difference(there are many other aspects to engagement that also need consideration.)
However I do I think the world would be a much better place if we were able to help more people feel connected to their company purpose and feel how it can help them express and contribute to their own personal purpose.
So whilst its not 'news' to me that purpose has emerged as an attraction and engagement factor - I strongly believe that this is a worthwhile concept to explore and take action on.
Barry Deutsch
Partner
IMPACT Hiring Solutions
http://www.impacthiringsolutions.com/Blog
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Ali Godding
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