Where purpose meets PRIDE: training leaders at Robins Air Force Base

Photo: Aral Tasher via Unsplash

I miss the crackling energy of leaders diving deep into courageous learning.

A few weeks ago, before COVID-19 locked us in our homes, I traveled to Robins Air Force Base in Georgia with my good friend (and fellow executive coach) Kvon Tucker. There we led 40 commanders and squadron leaders through a half-day training workshop — an exploration of each individual's purpose, and how they could apply it to the broader team’s mission.

Purpose is that thing that lights you up

Purpose sparks your creativity and excitement. It inspires you to be brave and bold in how you show up in the world.

A statement that captures your purpose in a clear and compelling way can help you find True North when you get lost in the fog of day to day life — especially when times are chaotic as they are now.

Yet many of us check our individual purpose at the door when we go to work. We tell ourselves, There’s no “I” in “team.” It’s not about me, it’s about what the organization is trying to achieve, right?

Not when we’re doing our best work. People who see their work as their calling are much more satisfied with their jobs, and their lives more broadly. They perform better, achieve more, and bring out the best in others.

Losing yourself in an organization

Still, it’s so easy to lose ourselves in service of an organization. I’d made that mistake during my career at large companies like Apple and Google. These Air Force leaders face the same thing, sometimes struggling to maintain their individuality — that thing that makes them them — inside the highly regimented structure of the military.

That’s one reason why Lt. Colonel Paul Griffith, who first experienced our purpose workshop at Innovation Leader’s Impact conference in San Francisco last fall, brought us to Robins. He and his boss, Colonel Brian Moore, saw the value in cultivating the Robins culture one purposeful interaction at a time.

Leadership journeys

Leading the group that morning, Kvon and I shared our own leadership journeys. That included opening up to these strangers about years of burnout-induced physical pain and depression. We then asked them to share, with each other, the most courageous thing they’ve ever done. They discovered how hard it can be to be vulnerable with co-workers, and how much closer together that openness drew them. Participants said they were blown away by the emotional bravery of their colleagues. Their stories showed each other a depth they’d never before seen.

We then took them through a series of exercises to uncover their purpose: the kinds of people they aspire to be and the impact they want to have on the world. They wrote first drafts of a purpose statement. Then they made specific, actionable commitments — supported by accountability partners — to bring their purpose more into their work and personal lives.

As they worked, I could feel the energy swirling, and the emotions opening. Fear. Curiosity. Admiration. Love.

Where purpose meets PRIDE

Then we zoomed out. For the final two hours, the leaders mapped their newfound sense of purpose against the base’s culture principles, which they refer to as PRIDE: People, Readiness, Innovation, Drive, and Excellence. Participants chose which of the PRIDE emphasis areas aligned most, and least, with their individual purpose. They then explored the natural partnerships and leadership gaps that emerged, understanding new things about how their individual purpose could best support the team’s goals.

They ended by committing, before the whole group, to specific actions they would take to lead with purpose and PRIDE.

Kvon and I felt deeply honored to help members of our military lead with more heart, empathy, and understanding of self. We’re so grateful to Colonel Moore and Lt. Colonel Griffiths for trusting us.

An invitation to find your purpose

Would you like to try drafting your own purpose statement, to help you navigate through these challenging times? If so, leave a comment or send me a message. I’ll find a way to take each of you who’s interested through the exercise.