"By understanding your organization's current center of gravity, you can establish a baseline from which to evolve as a leader."
In today’s rapidly changing business landscape, purpose-driven leadership has emerged as a crucial framework for navigating uncertainty, driving innovation, and fostering inclusive workplace cultures. As business leaders, cultivating a sense of purpose not only provides a clear sense of direction but also enables intentional growth, increases employee engagement, attracts top talent, and ultimately makes a lasting difference in the world.
Going against the grain, I argue that purpose-driven leadership isn’t enough in today’s workplace for true impact and change. Evolutionary leadership takes the role, and importance, one step further by opening up one’s mind to insights and possibilities unfathomable before.
Let’s explore the essence of purpose-driven, evolutionary leadership, along with practical steps for building these qualities within yourself and your organization.
Understanding Purpose-Driven & Evolutionary Leadership
Purpose-driven, evolutionary leadership goes beyond personal career gain; It’s leadership that is committed to evolve, grow, and change while being inclusive of diverse perspectives and experiences. Leaders who embrace this mindset understand the experience of change and are prepared to listen affirmatively and influence others with purpose. They assure everyone feels respected and valued for who they are and comfortably contribute all of their talents in the workplace. Evolutionary leaders regard diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential but sensitive areas because they raise important considerations in the minds and hearts of everyone involved.
For aspiring Evolutionary leaders, essential personal development challenges and attributes include:
At Beyond Inclusion Group, we advocate for this unique model of leadership, which parallels the stages of human evolution. In true human-fashion, we tend to get stuck where we are most comfortable, and don’t “evolve” beyond where we actually need to in order to survive. In the same way, organizations also have what we call a “center of gravity” that dictates their typical functioning level. Oftentimes it’s the most comfortable place for the organization to be because it’s what comes naturally, or is easiest to their leaders. By understanding your organization’s current center of gravity, you can establish a baseline from which to evolve as a leader.
If you are looking to expand your organization while fulfilling your purpose and creating new growth, I encourage you to read “The Evolutionary Guide to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,”
Within this guide, you’ll uncover:
Download the guide today to begin your journey towards purpose-driven leadership!
Steps to Build Purpose-Driven, Evolutionary Leadership
It’s clear that purpose-driven, evolutionary leadership is the key to building workplace cultures that embrace true diversity, equity, and inclusion. If you are interested in building up your own leadership, or cultivating this type of leadership in others, there are a few steps you can take to see positive growth:
Commit to self-awareness and examine your biases. Check yourself for genuine openness to differences. It may take time, but cultivating your tolerance for ambiguity and exercising your ability to embrace cultural empathy is key. Inclusive leadership coaching can be a vital resource for this type of professional development due to the nature of self-awareness. You likely won’t see your own opportunity to improve as clearly as someone else can.
Actively look for signs of change and attune to its early indications. Being a visionary leader means being able to listen for and adapt to emerging trends and opportunities.
Embrace the “Anatomy of Wanting,” which involves recognizing the condition of wanting, identifying precipitating events, and aligning collective action towards a shared purpose.
“Leading people in an Evolutionary Purpose-Driven way means creating sustainable integration of cultural difference into ways of communicating that finds meta-coordination of meaning and collective action.” – Maria Velasco
Building on Your Strengths & Navigating Challenges
As a purpose-driven, evolutionary leader, you already possess inherent strengths that you can leverage. Block time your schedule to take inventory of what those strengths may be. Even if it’s only 10 minutes, clear your mind and consider your leadership strengths.
These are just a few examples of dozens. Use this list as a starting point to build an exhaustive list. You can also ask your trusted colleagues and mentors for help.
Once you have your list, think of ways to leverage these to navigate challenges. For example, you can embrace inclusive, collaborative teamwork for navigating challenges by looking at all sides of the situation and garnering comprehensive feedback.
And your ability to face challenges with resilience and agility is a hallmark of evolutionary leadership, allowing you to adapt and thrive in dynamic environments.
You now have a simple game plan to take action in your journey towards becoming an evolutionary leader.
You Aren’t Alone In Your Leadership Journey
Purpose-driven, evolutionary leadership is an essential framework for driving sustainable growth, fostering inclusive cultures, and making a positive impact in the world. By committing to self-awareness, embracing diversity and inclusion, and leveraging your strengths to navigate challenges, you can unlock resilience and agility as a leader.
If you’re ready to embrace purpose-driven, evolutionary leadership, book a discovery call with the team at Beyond Inclusion Group today. Together, let’s build a future where everyone thrives and belongs.
“At Beyond Inclusion Group, we partner with leaders to identify and overcome these barriers, transforming potential setbacks into stepping stones.”
“Think about the kind of leader you want to be remembered as. One who navigated the complexities of modern business with confidence, creating a workplace where every voice was heard, every contribution valued.”
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