Purpose is about integrity
When an organisation declares its purpose, it’s making a public promise that it stands for something that its leaders must be willing to keep. Once it does, the integrity clock starts ticking.
Traditionally, organisations didn’t declare their purpose. Their senior leaders often had a good idea of what it was, outside of profit and or service - it was just never articulated in a way that created a level of public and employee expectation. Yet times have changed.
Recent research will tell you that younger employees are definitely interested in what you stand for. For them, a purpose builds trust, guides decision-making and helps to attract aligned talent.
That said, it’s still not imperative that you have one. However, if you have to, you had better demonstrate it.
Otherwise, it’s not worth the webpage it’s written on, and employees, stakeholders and the public will rightly demand answers.
Standing for something isn’t about trying to create a false impression to win hearts, minds (and business). It’s a hill that leaders are prepared to die on to demonstrate that they have integrity.
