Getting better at getting better is what Rise With Drew is all about.
Monday through Thursday, we explore ideas from authors, thought leaders, and exemplary organizations. On Friday, I share something about myself or what we at PCI are doing on our quest to earning a spot on Fortune magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For.
1: What’s the (not so) secret formula to building a great workplace culture?
Last month we learned that PCI had achieved our long-term vision of earning a spot on Fortune magazine’s 100 Best Workplaces in the U.S. We are the #55 Best Medium Workplace in the U.S.
So, what are the ingredients required to be a great place to work?
Today, we are taking a look at the first ingredient: Purpose.
Purpose is our reason for being. Purpose asks: What difference do we make? Or, better yet: Above and beyond making money, what difference do we make?
Do we need to make money? Of course! What happens to companies that lose money consistently over time? They go out of business.
It’s the same in our personal lives. We need to make money. To pay the rent or our mortgage. The electric bill. The gas bill. The water bill. The cell phone bill. The cable bill. Insurance. Our education. Our kid’s education. We need to put food on the table. We want to go on vacation. And save for our retirement.
Of course, we must make money.
It’s the same thing for any organization. There are bills to pay. And people to hire. We need to invest in innovation and growth.
We must make money!
2: And, as leaders, we are wise to go deeper. We are wise to tap into a deeper sense of purpose and meaning.
It’s not “either / or.” It’s “both / and.” We exist to make money and to make a meaningful contribution in the world.
When we articulate and bring our purpose to life, we energize our people and our teams. We ask better questions. We find new ways to contribute. We take action to increase long-term profitability.
3: Purpose answers the “Why” question. “Every single company and organization on the planet knows WHAT they do,” writes Simon Sinek in Start with Why. “Some companies and people know HOW they do WHAT they do.”
Yet, very few know WHY they do what they do.
Simon asks: “By WHY I mean what is our purpose, cause or belief? WHY does our company exist? WHY do we get out of bed every morning? And WHY should anyone care?”
At PCI, our purpose is crystal clear: We inspire dreams and transform lives.
One insightful way to find purpose is to look at the people and the markets we serve. At PCI, we serve the education and non-profit markets. These organizations inspire dreams and transform lives.
Our work strengthens their ability to do this, providing us with our WHY behind our WHAT.
More next week!
___________________________
Reflection: What is the meaning in my work? Whom do we serve? What difference do I make?
Action: Journal about my answers to the questions above.
What did you think of this post?
