ARTICLE
Find Your "Why": A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Leadership Purpose Statement
by Shanda K. Miller
Researchers once studied hospital cleaning staff and found they fell into two distinct groups. Same job. Same hallways. Same mops. Yet the two groups described their work in completely different ways.
The first group saw a thankless job of cleaning up after coworkers and patients. They didn't find the work enjoyable or meaningful. It was a task list, and nothing more.
The second group saw themselves as caretakers, part of the overall healing process. They changed how they did the job. For example, they took time to visit with patients who rarely had visitors.
Same title. Very different work. The difference was purpose.
Why Purpose Matters for Team Leaders
Our work is more fulfilling when we have a purpose, or what Simon Sinek calls our why. When we believe our work contributes to something important, we feel more satisfied on the job.
As team leaders, purpose does double duty. When we know our purpose and lead from it, we create more meaning, fulfillment, and job satisfaction for the people on our team.
Here's the part I really want you to hear. Purpose is what distinguishes a team leader from just a supervisor. Without it, you won't inspire your team, nor will you have anywhere to lead them.
Sinek puts it this way: "People don't buy what you do, people buy why you do it." Your team works the same way. They want to be part of what you do when they believe what you believe.
What a Leadership Purpose Is
Your leadership purpose defines you, and it shows up in how you show up for your team. It isn't limited by your title. It isn't limited by your team's objective either.
A good purpose is specific and personal. It should light you up and inspire you. And it must reflect your values, because a purpose that ignores your values won't last.
Mine is to help leaders thrive—at work and in life. That's why I coach, train, and write. Everything I do gets filtered through that one sentence.
Ready to find yours? Block out some time, find a place free from distractions, and work through the four steps below.
Step 1: Identify Your Top Five Core Values
Your purpose statement starts with your values. Knowing your five core values helps you understand and prioritize what matters most to you. Here's how to get there:
Brainstorm. List as many values as you can think of. Don't edit yourself yet.
Shorten. Cut your list to your top ten. If that's hard, rank them by importance and drop values that are similar.
Narrow. Pick the five that speak to your heart, the ones you could not do without.
Write them down. Seeing your five core values on paper makes them real.
Don't rush this step. The values you choose become the foundation for everything that follows.
Step 2: Reflect on Four Questions
Once you have your core values, shift from your head to your heart. Take a few quiet minutes with these questions:
What most inspires me?
What do I want to be remembered for?
How do I want to make a difference in the world?
What do I do and why do I do it?
Write your answers freely. Your first thoughts are often the most honest ones.
Notice which words and themes keep showing up. Those patterns are clues. They point toward the purpose that's already inside you.
Step 3: Draft Your Purpose Statement
Now brainstorm a few different purpose statements. Use your core values and your answers from Step 2 as raw material. Write several versions. Some will feel flat. One will feel right.
As you draft, check each version against four tests:
Present tense. Your purpose is something you live now, not someday.
Positive. Say what you're for, not what you're against.
Action-oriented. Use verbs that show movement.
Concise. Make it short enough to remember without looking it up.
If you can't recall your statement from memory, it's too long. Trim it until it sticks.
Step 4: Write It and Post It Where You'll See It
Choose your final leadership purpose statement and write it out. Then post it where you can see it every day. A sticky note on your computer monitor works. So does the first page of your planner.
A purpose statement tucked in a drawer does nothing. One you see daily keeps you pointed in the right direction, especially on hard days.
Lead From Your Purpose
Writing the statement is only the beginning. The real payoff comes when you lead from it.
Start by aligning your purpose with your vision for your team. Then share that vision with them and invite them to shape it. When team members find personal meaning in your purpose, they are more likely to be engaged, motivated, and committed.
Share your purpose with your boss too. Ask whether she has a leadership purpose or a vision for the team. That conversation can open up a deeper partnership.
Purpose also changes how you spend your time. When you know what matters most, you can block out focused work time for your top priorities and let go of the rest. That's how you get the right things done, not just more things.
Start This Week
You don't need a retreat or a whole weekend. You need an hour, a quiet spot, and a pen.
If you've read the book, the Leadership Purpose Workbook is waiting for you in the free bonus content. It walks you through each step above. You can download the workbook here.
Your team is watching how you lead, whether you realize it or not. Give them a leader who knows why.
Take that first hour this week. Your purpose is closer than you think.
Heads up: The image of me in this post is an AI-created illustration, not a photograph. This post is adapted from my book From Supervisor to Super Leader with the help of AI, but thoroughly reviewed and edited by me.
My purpose is to help leaders thrive—at work and in life.
What's yours?
Send me an email. I’d love to hear from you.
shanda (at) becomeasuperleader.com
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