Purpose: More Than a Target.
We talk about purpose constantly—yet most organisations still lead by targets.
Revenue. Utilisation. Growth. Efficiency.
Targets matter.
But they are not purpose.
Purpose is the pattern of commitments that give meaning to action—the values we refuse to trade away even when the numbers tempt us.
Without that deeper anchor, familiar problems emerge:
• Teams hit KPIs while damaging relationships that create future value
• Public sector agencies optimise throughput while citizens feel unseen
• Schools and universities lift rankings while narrowing learning
In one Australian public organisation, success was defined almost entirely by processing speed. Staff became highly efficient at moving files, yet complaints continued to rise.
When leaders reframed purpose around “dignified service”, processes changed.
Speed initially slowed. Complaints dropped. Costs followed.
Purpose reshaped perspective.
Perspective reshaped decisions.
Decisions reshaped outcomes.
Leadership asks not only:
“Will this hit the target?”
but also:
“Is this consistent with who we say we are?”
Join is for this webinar in which we explore “purpose” and its role in the workplace: Who decides what purpose we are following? How do we know we are doing it effectively? What is the role of leadership in managing conflicting purposes?
If you have a particular issue around purpose in your leadership, why not share it so we can use the experience and perspectives in the room to explore it with you?
Registration is free and the link to the meeting will be sent approximately 24 hours before either commences.
