# The Power of Purpose By:: [[Ross Jackson]] 2023-08-06 Understanding why something is being done can be a source of motivation. Purpose is potentially powerful. If one understands the purpose towards which one’s activities are aimed, one can maintain effort longer and is more willing to overcome adversity. Management holds the responsibility of articulating purpose. Some managers do this exceptionally well. Others do not. Some managers adopt a “because I said so” approach to explaining work. This form of authoritarianism may be effective in the short run, but it seldom provides a sustainable basis for performance. People are searching for meaning. Work is an opportunity for meaning creation. Unlocking the power of purpose is a way organizations can improve performance. This requires thought. Many decisions are intuitive. Management must examine these intuitive decisions to determine why one action is preferable. That determination is linked to purpose. Taking time to understand those hidden preferences and then explaining them to those responsible for execution will provide a source of purpose and power. #### Related Items [[Purpose]] [[Power]] [[Management]] [[Thinking]] [[Intention]]