Did you do that ‘On Purpose”?
When I was a kid, I was outside every day, playing football on the fields for hours. I’d fall, dive, slide tackle… and come home with muddy trousers and holes in the knees.
At dusk, I’d run into the house, ready for dinner. Often, I’d forget to take off my muddy shoes… trailing dirt across the carpet all the way to the table.
“Nick… look at this muddy mess. Did you do that on purpose?”
“Sorry Mum, I forgot. I’m hungry.”
“And your trousers! I can see your knees again. Did you do that on purpose too?”
“Sorry Mum…”
From an early age, it seemed that doing things ‘On Purpose’ was something to avoid.
Only recently have I felt the real impact of being ‘On Purpose’.
A few years ago, I learned from Ruth Wageman and Krister Lowe, PhD about the importance of teams designing a Compelling Purpose, one of the key conditions for Team effectiveness at 6 Team Conditions.
Basically if a team isn’t clear on why it exists (its purpose), each person has their own implicit version and the team members pull in different directions.
Later, through Coaching certification at Co-Active Training Institute, I discovered their perspective of a Life Purpose.
At first, I thought this had to be something big and long-term. But actually, it’s really simple. A short sentence that helps you live your life intentionally, every day.
When I work with teams, I often guide them to create a Compelling Purpose together. I use the 1:2:4:All process to bring every voice into the room. It’s always rich, messy, and deeply collaborative.
When I coach leaders, we always craft a Life Purpose. A small sentence that can cut through the noise and bring real clarity to the everyday. We start with a metaphor… then explore how they want to be—and why.
Here is my life Purpose:
I am the kindest heart, seeking camaraderie and creativity for the sake of joyful adventures.
Just this. It guides me every day.
Sometimes I work with teams to help them shape the adventures they want to go on together.
Sometimes I work with leaders to clarify how they want to live and lead.
And every day, I try to live my own purpose—working alongside Elsa Regan-Klapisz, PhD and Barnabé Regané on our shared adventures at ici2learn and Skillful Collaboration.
Being On Purpose isn’t something to avoid. My Mum knows that too — after all, I got my “kindest heart” from her.
And honestly… for yourself or your team, wouldn’t it be great to say:
“We did that… On Purpose.”
If you’d like to explore that. Let’s connect.
