Purpose is belief in what you are doing.
Locating, connecting with and maintaining that belief is one of the most challenging and important tasks in leadership. Peter Drucker once wrote, “there is only one valid definition of a business purpose: to create a customer” (Drucker, 1954, p. 37). But is this simple definition still true?

Leading with Purpose will form a bridge between what is and what could be. Purpose is concerned with an organisation’s future place in a wider system. This requires a proper understanding of the organisation’s core mandate, effective management of its business-as-usual processes, and care for its continuing viability, health and well-being.

This interactive course is about stepping into the unknown and finding novel ways of thinking about purpose with increased confidence, wisdom and judgment. In the second decade of the 21st century, we are learning about a set of challenges that no other business generation has had to face. Moving beyond managing only for economic growth, being purpose-led means re-examining what we do across a wide range of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) priorities. Now more than ever, companies, sectors and whole economies must change. Will this change bring a loss of focus? A loss of meaning? Loss of profits? Should success have a moral component?

This course – led by an experienced tutor who has written and researched extensively in this field – will introduce plenty of lively talking points around purpose and success. It will include practical perspectives that are backed by theory and informed by current thinking and, using real-world cases and examples, it will celebrate the diverse experience of the participants in the group. You will discuss, reflect on and apply what you are learning.

How the course is structured

We open and close with live (synchronous) and interactive seminars. In-between, as a participant you will work your way through the prepared content at your own pace.

There are four parts to the course, and these will include ideas for activities and reflections you can try, alongside a range of thought-provoking reading and viewing to fuel your exploration of the topic. Activities aim for new ideas which you can bring to the group in online discussions and Q&A, as well as to the second live seminar.

An additional opt-in reflective practice writing exercise can be submitted for informal feedback up to two weeks from the end of the course.