It’s impossible to miss the simultaneous occurrence of two corporate trends. The first is the rise of the idea that to motivate employees you need to supply them with a “corporate purpose.” The second is the astronomical rise in CEO and senior executive pay.
Your Corporate Purpose Will Ring Hollow If the Company’s Actions Don’t Back It Up
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It’s impossible to miss the simultaneous occurrence of two corporate trends. The first is the rise of the idea that to motivate employees you need to supply them with a “corporate purpose.” The second is the astronomical rise in CEO and senior executive pay. But can leaders credibly talk “purpose” in an organization that pays its chiefs a fortune and treats its staff or other stakeholders badly? The goal of a purpose statement is to add another dimension to an organization, changing it from a purely transactional system to a relationship. In some organizations, it can inspire customers and motivate employees. But if your executives make a fortune while front-line workers can barely get by, or you’re squeezing (or even defrauding) customers, espousing a purpose will only get you into trouble. Instead of spending time crafting a purpose statement, get your corporate house in order. Otherwise your efforts might just be met with a collective “you-must-be-joking” response.