Having a purpose in life is directly associated with happiness and a sense of belonging; setting a clear business purpose could in fact follow a similar premise for employees.
It’s easy to argue how happiness is every individual’s ultimate goal in life. Why do we do the things we do if it is not for the potential of happiness and fulfillment? Additionally, given our social nature, the sense of belonging can also be thrown into this equation.
And according to a recent study, happiness is very closely linked to the idea of purpose, stating how when people have a bigger sense of purpose in their lives, they also tend to have more positive emotions such us satisfaction, joy, enthusiasm or tranquility.
This same study also found great benefits to applying such purpose-happiness premise to businesses and organizations, finding benefits across various realms such as growth, market expansion or innovation.
Additionally, employees with a clear purpose and orientation in their work found meaning, satisfaction and better productivity in their day to day activities.
What does purpose look like?
It’s easy to think about purpose in life and in business as a great achievement or cause, something monumental that could in fact end up inflicting great pressure upon individuals and organizations if not handled thoughtfully.
Engage employees in the sustainability strategy
But nothing is further from the truth. Purpose does not require great things or ambitions, its importance is much more prevalent in the work and effort we as individuals put on for our family, friends, colleagues, community etc. There is a simplicity to purpose that is precisely what links it to ultimate happiness.
However, the simplicity does not erase how important it actually is; after all, it is the closest answer we have to happiness and fulfillment in life. Furthermore, it is the greatest tool companies have to create a healthy, happy and meaningful work experience for their employees.
The importance of business purpose
Although this could easily be applicable in or own lives, today we want to focus on the importance of business purpose, both for the company’s growth and performance and employees’ wellbeing. Here are three arguments to start working on your business purpose today and make employees an active part of it all.
People feel a sense of value and meaning to their work when they know what they do has a positive impact on others in their community.
Purpose centers you
In a world characterized by how fast-paced and immediate everything is, chaos can easily take over our lives in many ways. The amount of information and stimuli that accompany our every day is not easy to navigate or pay close attention to.
It is in this regard that purpose can provide some tranquility and help center our actions and thoughts, finding focus where otherwise there seems to be plain chaos. Purpose helps us find meaning and reason to our actions, which can turn the mundane into a bigger ambition to create a positive impact.
Purpose grounds you
Sometimes is the simplest things in life that can help ground us, imagine a sunset by the sea or climbing up a mountain to enjoy the view. Such experiences evoke a feeling of being part of something bigger.
Having a purpose in life and business grants a similar sensation. Our ‘small’ contribution to a given project, or a friendship, for example, leaves a feeling of meaningfulness to the things we do or say, as they are part of something bigger than our own selves.
Purpose connects us
As we mentioned before, we are social beings, and so our purpose in life is closely linked to the idea of belonging. It is the same premise DEI policies should follow in business; it is not just a matter of finding different perspectives and experiences, but about being able to create a place for everyone to belong comfortably.
Same as happiness, purpose is closely linked to the idea of belonging to a community or a particular group of people. The explanation is simple. People feel a greater sense of reward or satisfaction when their work or effort is valued by others.
Purpose in business can look many different ways, but at the end of the day people feel a sense of value and meaning to their work when they know what they do has a positive impact on others in their community, team, family etc.
To sum it all up, purpose is what helps us find focus inside the chaos of the business world, grounds us to work towards something bigger than our own selves, and it helps us find meaning in doing things for the sake of other people’s wellbeing.
Creating business purpose through sustainability
If we define sustainability as a force to create positive impact in society, the planet and the overall way in which companies do business, we find that it is not far from the three elements defining the importance of purpose:
- Sustainability can become that very target towards which people can work together. It holds the capacity to guide and center people’s actions, finding the necessary focus we have talked about.
- Secondly, given the nature of sustainability, specially if we think about the environment, the latter can give us something to work towards, and moreover, something to protect and care for that is bigger than our own selves, whilst being crucially important to our livelihood.
- And last but not least, sustainability is in its core a way of creating a positive impact for others, in our local community, at a global scale and even just in the comfort of our own homes. The purpose sustainability provides is one that aims to protect people and everything that surrounds them.
Engage employees in sustainability
People look for the opportunity to be actively engaged and find purpose in having a positive impact through their jobs.
In DoGood we believe that working collectively can help us find that which alone may seem unattainable or useless. That is why we think the workplace is the perfect environment to find that collective eagerness to make a difference, both for the sustainability and purpose of the company and a more sustainable way of being for all.
Through our technology we are able to activate and track employees’ impact, creating engagement that translates into improved ESG metrics, reputational value and an overall positive impact for the environment and society.
