Here’s the email I wrote to leaders in Reno County Monday, December 17:
Happy Holidays Everyone. This will be my last post of the year in light of the next couple of weeks (plus, my wife is due to deliver our 4th child Dec 31). I hope you’ll indulge me a story from the church world that may very well relate to our lives as leaders. One of the earliest missionaries to leave England in what we know as the modern missionary movement went to, at that time, the unknown world of India. And, when he was leaving, he told his supporters: “Well, I will go down, if you will hold the rope.” He understood the importance of uniting people around purpose. I don’t know of a better way to end this year and begin looking to another one than to urge you to consider how you will hold the rope. How will you hold to purpose more effectively in the coming year?
Recently, I received a card from the Kansas Leadership Center on Holding to Purpose. This resource was designed to help us engage in civic leadership more effectively. It’s based on experiences shared by KLC Alumni in a Nov. 15, 2012 On the Balcony conference call, hosted by Ed O’Malley. Here’s some bits and pieces from it:
“Holding to purpose is about maintaining focus on what you value and want to accomplish. Staying grounded in an individual or collective group purpose is critical for progress. The more provocative your vision, the more difficult the journey.”
What does hold to purpose mean?
· Remembering to step back and evaluate whether the work you’re doing contributes to your purpose
· Staying focused on the big picture beyond the small details
· Remaining open to the possibility that your purpose might evolve as you engage people whose values and priorities are different from your own.
How do you help a group hold to purpose?
· Challenge the assumption that there isn’t time to develop a shared purpose
· Spend time diagnosing: listen and ask questions, specifically, “Why?”
· Remind people there’s a difference between purpose and strategy
· Repeatedly state the purpose. Keep in top of mind at all times.
How can you find and hold to your personal purpose?
· Identify your passions and what you value to help you determine purpose
· Engage others in your purpose, so you remain energized in the work
· Pursue activities that relate to your purpose
· Find someone who will hold you accountable and steady in your purpose
Principles and competencies related to holding to purpose:
· Distinguish technical vs. adaptive work – adaptive work is rooted in values which will help you hold to purpose
· Choose among competing values – to hold to purpose, you might have to sacrifice other things you care about
· Take care of yourself – you stand a better chance of holding to purpose when you’re at your best
· Give the work back – it’s easy to lose sight of your purpose if you don’t focus on your priorities
So, have a very purposeful and fruitful end of the year/start to next year and see if this doesn’t result in our making progress in those issues we deeply care about.