From dialogue coach to purpose pioneer

Around 2015 I started to notice a pattern. When groups of leaders engaged in conversations about purpose, their perspectives shifted. For leaders who did more of the same — restructuring, reviewing targets, refining processes — nothing significant changed. For leaders who grappled with purpose-related questions — Why are we here? What are we about? What do we offer that engages our stakeholders? — wellbeing and performance improved. I saw how authentic dialogue with a compelling purpose transformed teams. Instead of ‘stuck’ meetings where one or two people dominated, talking about a shared purpose encouraged diverse team members to contribute ideas. I learnt how to help groups navigate the inevitable messiness of conflict as they confronted fundamental questions. A shared purpose helped to pull people together, despite competing agendas and personality clashes. My work now focuses on creating environments for deeper dialogue and connecting people with a compelling purpose. Seeing transformative tools make a real difference to people and outcomes buzzes me every day.