Can You Feel Your Purpose?

June 15, 2017
  • Bob Chapman
  • Bob Chapman
    CEO & Chairman of Barry-Wehmiller

Business is not a math problem. It’s not a machine; it’s a human enterprise. It’s not a game; it’s about the real lives of real people.

Despite what many people want to tell you, business is not war. Like I recently wrote on LinkedIn, it’s not a place where robots can make decisions for the people within the business because they are emotionless. Business is a deeply human enterprise. Because of that, we cannot separate emotion from our interactions. And because of that, it’s within our power to care for the other people in our business. We can and we should.

I recently came across a blog post that talks about the connection between emotion — or feelings —  and purpose in business. Here’s a good quote from the post:

Leaders talk about destination and purpose. Management asks what, how, and when. Leadership is about where and why. Where are we going? Why does it matter?

Around the time my book, "Everybody Matters," was released, I sat down to chat with Dan Rockwell, the self-described "Leadership Freak." Dan is an incredibly thoughtful person who dispenses insight in 300 words or less on his daily blog. He also appeared on our Everybody Matters podcast and had a very impactful discussion with Matt Whiat and Sara Hannah of the BW Leadership Institute (now Chapman & Co. Leadership Instituteread more here) on the idea of accountability.

I encourage you to read Dan’s piece, “Why Feelings Matter From Someone Who Thought They Didn’t.” Time to shed the emotional armor and think anew.


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