The book dissects the essentials of leadership, drilling down to unearth key elements of what it takes to get optimal performance from team members. Today’s global business environment places a variety of demands on its managers. Yet, PURPOSE proposes that no leaders can meet these demands without first finding personal meaning – an internal compass – that can guide a leader to forge authentic relationships at the core of creating winning teams.
A sought-after business coach and speaker, Renshaw uses examples from his experience coaching top-level executives around the world to show how his methods help each person not just in their business lives, but in their personal lives, too. Both businesses and people need a purpose. By the time people are successful, don’t people already know their purpose? Don’t businesses? Renshaw explains how the answer is often “no.” People confuse purposes with goals or values – business goals such as improving products or profits or personal goals such as becoming CEO or buying a big house. Values flow from purpose. Living one’s values, such as honesty or integrity, becomes easier when there is a core underneath, a purpose. A purpose comes from a different place. A purpose is a reason for being, for existing in the world. A purpose may be “Live Your Best Life” or “Be Happy” or “Make People’s Lives Better.” From purpose, all else flows – authenticity, communication, and results. A purpose fits all situations. Finding and living a purpose brings vitality, clarity and meaning.
Finding personal purpose comes from clear assessments of what makes a person fulfilled, such as delving deeply into what is enjoyable, where pleasure exists or what gives pride. In PURPOSE, Renshaw walks through tools he uses with his clients to define purpose. For businesses the process is similar, but becomes a shared purpose. What is a business really trying to accomplish? Selling more widgets isn’t a purpose. For Facebook, it’s “Bring the World Closer Together.” For Coca-Cola, it’s “To Refresh the World in Mind, Body and Spirit.”
With simple advice that cuts through the weeds of the workday, Ben Renshaw outlines concisely and clearly the steps to find personal meaning. He put PURPOSE into the world as part of his personal purpose. Readers who grab the book and follow his advice might find their purpose, too.
~Greg Rideout for IndieReader