For more than 4,000 years we’ve been making some type of New Year’s resolution, starting with ancient Babylonians (History). Back then things looked a little different - the resolutions focused on returning tools and paying off debts.
Today while some make formal resolutions, most of us hit reset in some way with the new calendar year. New Year resolutions provide a moment of reflection to invest in something we value – get healthier, be a better friend, or spend more time with family.
This year, as I thought about my resolution for the PPMC, I kept coming back to one thing: clarity of purpose. I’ve spoken to purpose many times before, and I’ll certainly do it again. Purpose continues to be the driving factor, the WHY of the work, the foundation for public service and the PPMC’s existence. However, we have to remember that sticking to purpose means clearly defining what is essential AND what is not essential.
The PPMC’s aspiration is to be your go-to resource to help build thriving communities and advance public good.
As we soon roll out a new strategic plan, we will be sharing more about how we clearly define our purpose and how we operationalize our aspiration. Much like you and your organizations, there are many options on how to serve, but clarity of purpose helps drive decision-making and resource allocation.
The benefits for a clear purpose are many, including:
- Job Satisfaction: 73% of professionals who identify as working for a purpose-driven company are satisfied with their jobs (LinkedIn’s Purpose at Work Global Report).
- Retaining High Performers: Purpose-driven companies, as defined by employees, had 40% higher levels of workforce retention than their competitors (Deloitte Insights 2020 Global Marketing Trends Report).
- Creating Consumer Loyalty: U.S. consumers are more likely to have a positive image of (89%), trust in (86%) and be loyal (83%) to brands that lead with purpose (Cone/Porter Novelli 2019).
Since the days of Babylon, humans have been striving to do better, so here’s my 2023 New Year’s Resolution Foundation Challenge… How are you clearly defining purpose, aligning resources, and communicating effectively?
It’s also probably a good idea to return any borrowed tools.
Wishing you all a great and purpose-driven 2023!