Resolve to become a purpose-driven business

Recently, I was leading an event organized around creating an action plan for a company for the upcoming year. The company is a hospital with an aspiration to be a top player in its sector in the next two years.

As we started listing the goals and objectives the company intended to achieve this year, I noticed a cautious optimism coupled with a lot of skepticism about WHETHER those goals would be achieved.

As we were concluding that part of the new year build-up, I decided to address the elephant in the room: integrity.

As we started a conversation about honouring our word, as that's what integrity is, an administrator stood up and said, "None of this matters anyway. We will need to work practically. All this talk around patient welfare doesn't build up the capital needed to run this hospital, nor pay our salaries."

It was then that one of the directors of the hospital stood up and took responsibility for allowing the initial vision of the hospital to fade into the background. He acknowledged the financial challenges the hospital faced and admitted that perhaps they had lost sight of the core values that had fuelled their aspirations.

His honesty opened a door to a deeper, more meaningful conversation. Becoming a little sentimental, he recounted the start of the enterprise, when they would work around the clock, not caring what the revenue implications might be. Still, the revenue took care of itself, as the patient care was extraordinary. That had been the secret ingredient in making this unit a household name in Ahmedabad.

He pledged that this would change, invited suggestions from the staff, and gave them a direct line of communication to him whenever they felt the core values of the hospital were being compromised.

This allowed another director to own up to his responsibility, and in the space that followed there was a freedom and celebration around owning up to breakdowns.

I found that space almost sacred. I warned them that the initial enthusiasm might fade, but the purpose never would. As we embraced this renewed commitment, there was a palpable sense of optimism and unity in the team. They were no longer just setting goals; they were embarking on a purposeful mission to redefine success in their sector.

This new year, let's resolve to become purpose-driven businesses. Profits may drive our current system, but purpose is what drives our soul.