The Power of Purpose

The Power of Purpose.

Historically, motivating people to work collectively to achieve a common goal has always been a major factor. How this factor is dealt with, is what that differentiates a leader from a practitioner. Great minds have formulated various leadership strategies over time and effective practitioners have re-articulated the same using timely measures. Anyhow, only true leaders have found the formulae to connect the people with the spirit to achieve the organizational goals.?

?To expect contribution from personnel at a workplace where respect and the sense of purpose is elusive, the road to achieve the common goal gets evenly rugged. True leadership comprehends the value of an organization’s most pivotal asset, its people. Of many methods that will guide leadership to bring out the potential of the workplace and for workforce to contribute to the organization with purpose, Ikigai stands out as the most, if not apt concept.?

Ikigai is a Japanese concept, meaning “a reason for being” and is used to indicate the values in life or better to make one’s life worthwhile. In an ever-bustling metropolis, stillness becomes a luxury. Ikigai acts as a pacifier that will convert the luxury into affordability. The system essentially focuses on four elements;

What you love.

What the world needs.

What you excel at.

What your profession is.

Ikigai is fulfilment, a journey that begins with self-introspection. “What do I love? What does the world require? What can I be paid for? What am I really good at?” Ultimately, this balance is found when passion and talent converge with what the world needs and is willing to pay for. Ikigai thus becomes a key to unlock potential. Potential leads to purpose in life and purpose is ultimate.

Purpose is contagious at workplace and a wise individual recognizes them by planning with conscience.??

A wise individual and non-rational is differentiated with what they consider as contributing factors. While the wise contributes purpose, the non-rational merely contributes their time. Goals are actualized with focus –of role players and on target. By laying down a vision, a determined leader displays the trust in his team. The one with purpose considers it as recognition, the non-rational categorizes it as burden. Thus, by contributing to the team, the sensible recognizes avenues for self-development and team growth.

Teams require players with varied life and work exposures. It is said that Melting pots bring creativity, nothing can be more accurate. Purpose drives the human being to learn from one another to hoist the flag of excellence. It fuels them and, in that process, the committed finds his ikigai.?A GPS for the self is imperative to awaken the inner potential. The one who has realized his ikigai knows that responsibility, acceptance, quality teamwork, passion, wisdom etc. are essentials to understand one’s own purpose and potential. To realize that you can change your own life is poetic reward in the road to self-actualization.

In the end, purpose is the call for “Why”. “Why we do things we do” is a question to which the answer should speak not from our words but from our actions. May our actions bring purpose to our lives.

Best wishes,

Jaber Abdul Wahab