My North Star

As I review my own purpose, today I find myself accompanying many organizations, teams and executives in transition. Transitions due to organisational restructuring post M&A and cost reduction directives, team transitions with team members changing, transitions involving a new role or region, and sometimes 'simply' a transition to a better version of themselves.

Many leaders carry out busy work serving clients, teams and their hierarchy as well as their internal and external networks - without dedicating the time to define their North Star - what they stand for, what value they create and what gives meaning to their lives.

What gives your leadership meaning? Where do you create distinctive value? What do you want your leadership to stand for?

If you haven't defined your purpose before or are feeling the need to review it with a new chapter in your life, here's a process you may like to follow:

Seven Purpose Questions

1. What matters most to you?

When you look beyond your title, compensation and status, what do you genuinely care about?

2. When are you at your best?

Think of 2–3 moments in your career when you felt most alive, effective or fulfilled. What were you doing? What were you contributing?

3. What impact do you naturally create?

What do people consistently come to you for? What changes because you are involved?

4. What do you want to change or improve?

What bothers you enough that you want to do something about it — in your organisation, your profession, your industry or society?

5. Who do you want to serve?

Whose success, growth, wellbeing or transformation matters particularly to you?

6. What do you want your leadership to stand for?

If people worked with you for ten years and described the difference you made, what would you hope they would say?

7. Complete this sentence:

“I am at my best when I ________, so that ________, because ________.”

Then: Turn it into a Purpose Statement

A strong executive purpose statement usually contains:

I [contribution/action] → for [who] → to create [impact] → because [what matters].

For example:

“I bring clarity to complex situations and create the conditions for people to perform at their best, because I believe meaningful progress happens when people feel both challenged and empowered.”

The deeper question

Once you have a draft, answer the following question:

“If I were no longer (your current title) tomorrow, what part of my purpose would remain?”

Wishing you inspiration, insight and dedication to defining your North Star!