Ty: [00:00:00] And welcome to the Purpose and Profit Podcast. I'm your host, Dr. Ty Wenglar, and today, well, we are doing something a little different. I know that, this was not our plan that we announced last week, but well, we got to be able to roll with, the punches. See, recently the studio at Google Notebook conducted an in depth discussion about the principles and practices.
Ty: Of Lucentra Advisors, my past books, me as a, as a speaker, and what makes this conversation particularly fascinating is that it features, well, AI generated personalities. These personalities are designed to analyze and present the insights with clarity, precision, and most importantly, without any bias.
Ty: And you know, while they're not human. The depth of discussion and the way they connect the ideas to real world leadership challenges, [00:01:00] well, it's nothing short of remarkable. I mean, it is in perfect alignment. Alignment means a lot to me, obviously, with the way I'm thinking. The session explores the core themes behind my books, particularly aligning purpose around what we do at Lucentra Advisors, you know, aligning purpose with strategy, foster innovation, drive sustainable long term growth.
Ty: Profit acceleration and optimization. And it also contrasts purpose driven leadership with some of the traditional profit first models, like the old, everybody remembers Jack Welch, offers a fresh perspective on how alignment and clarity can transform organizations. It was honestly quite humbling to hear this analysis that's being done by AI and see how purpose driven leadership is becoming a universal framework for ethical and effective business practices.[00:02:00]
Ty: So, with all that said, whether you're a season's leader, an entrepreneur, or just Curious about how purpose can reshape the way we work and, and honestly, the way we live life. Well, this conversation has got something for you. So without further ado, let's dive into the discussion. Like I said, produced by the studio at Google network, about the work we're doing at Lucentra and the principles that guide us and guide me.
Female: Hey, everyone. Welcome back to the deep dive. You know, we always try to dig beneath the surface. And today we're going to look past the typical buzzwords and really get into what drives purpose driven leadership.
Male: Yeah, for sure.
Female: You know, it's more than just like a nice slogan. Oh,
Male: yeah.
Female: So we've got a ton of great material to work with, we've got excerpts from Dr.
Female: Ty Wenglar's website and his book, Aligning Purpose. We've also got some information about his firm, Lucentra Advisors, and then we also have some analysis that compares a bunch of different CEO [00:03:00] approaches, but particularly how those approaches compare to the profit first leadership model that Jack Welch was so famous for.
Male: It's you know, it's really interesting to see how relevant this topic is right now.
Female: Oh, yeah.
Male: We're kind of in a business world that's shifting gears. There's way more emphasis on the long game now, creating value that lasts instead of just chasing, you know, those quick profits.
Female: Yeah, I think it's a much needed shift.
Male: Totally.
Female: So our goal today is to kind of help you understand purpose driven leadership. What it means, how it can lead to innovation, shape a company's culture, and how it stacks up against some of those more traditional leadership styles. Awesome. So to start off, let's just get to know Dr. Ty Wenglar a little bit.
Female: Okay. The thing that really stood out to me was his background. He's not like your typical leadership expert.
Male: Definitely not. I
Female: do agree.
Male: Yeah, he really embodies this idea of a player coach.
Female: Yeah.
Male: Which is really intriguing on its own.
Female: I love that.
Male: He's had such a successful career as a construction executive, tons of [00:04:00] experience and development.
Male: Mm hmm. But he's also a scholar who's really serious about researching leadership ethics and practices.
Female: So he's got that real world experience and the academic background to back it all up. Exactly. Even his dissertation title was Exploring the Intersection of Ethical and Virtuous Leadership.
Male: Wow. That's deep.
Female: It shows you how deeply he thinks about this stuff.
Male: Yeah. It's
Female: clear he's also really passionate about teaching and mentoring, which you can really see in his book, Aligning Purpose.
Male: I think Aligning Purpose really seems to be the core of his philosophy.
Female: Yeah.
Male: And it couldn't be more timely.
Female: Yeah.
Male: The book digs deep into how important it is to align your actions with a deeper sense of purpose.
Male: And that totally aligns with the way that businesses are starting to prioritize long term value creation. Dr. Wenglar provides really practical advice, case studies, strategies.
Female: Yeah.
Male: It's like a toolkit for leaders who want to build trust, create space for innovation, and build that resilience within their [00:05:00] organizations.
Female: Yeah, and here's where things get really interesting for me.
Male: Okay.
Female: Dr. Wenglar talks a lot about the golden rule in leadership. Okay. Treating others how you would like to be treated. Yeah. Seems so simple.
Male: Right.
Female: But you know, how often do we really see that in action, especially at the highest levels?
Male: It's a deceptively simple concept.
Female: Right.
Male: But think about the potential impact.
Female: Yeah.
Male: I mean, if a leader truly embodies that principle.
Female: Yeah.
Male: It can have like this ripple effect throughout the whole organization. You're talking about building real trust, fostering this positive environment where people feel valued and even driving up employee engagement and collaboration.
Male: Yeah. And it could even lead to building a more ethical and sustainable business model, which is like huge nowadays.
Female: Yeah, that's a really good point. I'm really fascinated by how he connects the golden rule to a more ethical way of doing business. Yeah. It's not a perspective you really hear a lot in those like typical traditional leadership discussions.
Female: Right. But let's contrast this approach with the approach of someone like Jack Welch, who was known for being super [00:06:00] successful.
Male: Yeah.
Female: But sometimes really ruthless as the leader of GE.
Male: Yeah, Jack Welch was definitely a pro at driving shareholder value. Yeah. I mean, GE's market cap like exploded while he was at the helm.
Female: Yeah.
Male: But there's been a lot of debate about the lasting effects of his methods.
Female: Oh, really? What kind of debate?
Male: Well, this main focus was aggressive cost cutting restructuring, and he was always pushing to maximize shareholder value. And while this tactics led to, you know, impressive gains in the short term, some people argue that they came at a cost.
Female: Oh, really?
Male: You know, potentially sacrificing long term stability, even creating cultural issues within GE.
Female: Oh, wow.
Male: There's been some analysis of CEOs who actually tried to follow in Welch's footsteps.
Female: Okay.
Male: And the results are kind of a mixed bag.
Female: Really? Like, what happened?
Male: Well, you've got Al Dunlap, nicknamed Chainsaw Al, for his extreme focus on cost cutting at Sunbeam.
Female: Right.
Male: Initially profits went up, but then the company started to struggle with innovation, and employee [00:07:00] morale just tanked.
Female: So it seems like focusing solely on profits can actually backfire.
Male: Yeah, a lot of times it does. Wow. Then there's Carly Fiorina at HP. Okay. Her merger with Compaq was a big deal at the time.
Male: Yeah. And it actually led to tons of integration issues and clashes in the company culture. Oh,
Female: wow.
Male: Ultimately, HP lost its edge in the market.
Female: Yeah.
Male: And of course, how can we forget Jeffrey Skilling at Enron?
Female: Oh, yeah.
Male: I mean, all that financial engineering and aggressive risk taking to boost the stock price.
Male: Right. We all know how that ended.
Female: Yeah. Yeah. That did not end well.
Male: It seems like there's this pattern here.
Female: Mm hmm.
Male: A focus on short term gains that actually undermines a company's long term vision.
Female: They traded long term stability for like a quick bump.
Male: Right.
Female: And it caught up to them.
Male: Yeah. And think about Fiorina at HP again.
Female: Okay.
Male: HP was known for being innovative. Mm
Female: hmm. Mm hmm.
Male: But that merger with Compaq created so much internal chaos that it really hurt their ability to stay ahead of the game.
Female: Yeah.
Male: It makes you wonder if those short term wins actually pushed them [00:08:00] further away from their original mission.
Female: That's a good point.
Male: Yeah.
Female: Now imagine these leaders trying to operate in today's world, you know. Yeah. With social media, independent journalism, influencer culture. Oh yeah. That's a whole different
Male: game. A whole different ballgame. A leader like Jack Welch. Would be under a microscope. Oh,
Female: yeah.
Male: There's so much more transparency and scrutiny now, and employees have a way stronger voice through platforms like Glassdoor.
Female: Right.
Male: Leaders can't really control the narrative the way they used to.
Female: Yeah, it's like instant accountability. Like if a disgruntled employee Tweet something and it goes viral or an influencer criticizes the company's environmental practices to millions of followers, you can't, you know, there's no time to like, try to spin the story, you have to respond and it has to be authentic.
Male: And it goes beyond just public image to investors and consumers are making decisions based on values like social responsibility and sustainability, that whole purely. Profit driven approach
Female: just
Male: might not cut it anymore.
Female: We're seeing it play out in [00:09:00] real time with Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter.
Male: Totally.
Female: You know, his cost cutting and mass layoffs, which were aimed at making Twitter profitable, were amplified online and just caused a ton of backlash, which hurt both his reputation and the company's.
Male: Yeah, for sure.
Female: It's really interesting to think about how leadership styles that maybe worked in the past just might not fly today.
Male: It makes you wonder if someone like Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, would have been as successful back in Walsh's era. You know, his focus on culture transformation and long term investments like Azure might have been seen as too soft back then. But today, Microsoft is doing incredibly well.
Female: Yeah, and on the other hand, Could a leader like Elon Musk, who's obviously super innovative and bold, but also super controversial.
Male: Yeah.
Female: Could he have pulled off what he's done back in like the 80s
Male: or 90s? That's a good question.
Female: You know, it was such a different time, no social media, different market environment, different cultural expectations.
Male: I doubt it. Yeah. Which kind of brings us to what I [00:10:00] think is like the ultimate anti Welch Al Dunlap.
Female: Okay.
Male: He's almost like a textbook example of what wouldn't work in today's business world.
Female: So Dunlap was all about extreme cost cutting and putting shareholder value above everything else.
Male: Yeah.
Female: Even if it meant creating a really toxic work environment.
Male: Right.
Female: But what makes you so sure he wouldn't make it today?
Male: Well, today, there's all this emphasis on social responsibility, employee empowerment, what's known as ESG principles, things that investors and consumers really, really care about.
Female: Yeah.
Male: Dunlap's approach would be so out of touch with all of that.
Female: So you're saying in today's world, someone like Dunlap would face some serious consequences.
Male: Imagine this, Dunlap announces mass layoffs at a company.
Female: Okay.
Male: Within hours, it's all over Twitter. Former employees are sharing their horror stories. Yeah. Influencers are bashing the decision.
Female: Oh, wow.
Male: News outlets are jumping on the story. Yeah. Investors, especially those focused on ESG principles, start pulling their money out.
Female: Yeah.
Male: Consumers are [00:11:00] influenced by what they're seeing online. Right. It might even boycott the company's products.
Female: Wow.
Male: It would be a total PR nightmare.
Female: And probably a financial one, too.
Male: Exactly. And it wouldn't end there. Oh, no. You'd see increased regulatory scrutiny probably leading to investigations and fines.
Female: Oh, my god. The
Male: company culture would completely fall apart as all the talented employees start looking for better places to work.
Female: Yeah.
Male: Basically, Dunlap's whole approach would backfire spectacularly.
Female: It's a huge contrast to that whole purpose driven approach we were talking about earlier.
Male: Definitely.
Female: Really shows you how much the business world has changed. It's like
Male: night and day. And that's where we start to see the real power behind Dr. Wenglar's philosophy.
Female: Yeah. Before we jump into that.
Male: Okay.
Female: I'm curious to get your take on something. Yeah. You know, we've been talking about these like high profile CEOs.
Female: But how does this whole concept of purpose driven leadership apply to like everyday people, you know, whether they're leading a team or just trying to navigate their own careers?
Male: That's a great question. Yeah. It's important to [00:12:00] remember that leadership isn't just about having some fancy title or managing a big team.
Male: Right. It's about influence. You know, inspiring others and working together towards a common goal.
Female: Yeah.
Male: And that's something that anyone can do no matter what their position is.
Female: So how can someone, let's say like a team leader or even like an individual contributor, start using these ideas in their own work?
Male: Well, I think it starts with understanding your own values and what you're passionate about. What kind of impact do you want to make? What problems do you want to solve?
Female: Yeah.
Male: And once you figure that out, you can start aligning your actions with those values and passions.
Female: So it's about finding your own personal purpose.
Female: Right. And letting that guide your decisions and actions.
Male: Exactly. And it's also about building relationships that are based on trust and respect. Mm
Female: hmm.
Male: Treating others how you would want to be treated, no matter what their position or title is.
Female: So it sounds like purpose driven leadership can be a really powerful tool for creating positive change.
Female: Yeah. Within [00:13:00] organizations and in the world.
Male: Totally. It's not about quick fixes or shortcuts. It's about building something that lasts and something that makes a real difference.
Female: That's awesome. This has been super insightful.
Male: Yeah.
Female: I want to touch on one more thing before we move on. Okay. You mentioned ESG principles earlier.
Female: Yeah. Could you explain exactly what those are and how they fit into this conversation?
Male: Of course, ESG stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance. And it's a framework that investors use to evaluate companies based on how sustainable and ethical they are.
Female: So it's about looking beyond just financial performance.
Male: Right. Investors are paying more and more attention to things like a company's environmental impact, how they treat their employees, and the diversity of their leadership teams.
Female: It seems like ESG investing is just a reflection of this shift towards purpose and values that we've been talking about.
Male: It definitely is.
Male: And it's becoming increasingly important. Companies that ignore ESG factors are putting themselves at a disadvantage.
Female: Yeah.
Male: Investors want to support companies that align with their values. [00:14:00] And so do consumers.
Female: It's a win, win, win situation.
Male: Yeah.
Female: Good for investors, good for consumers and good for the world.
Male: That's the goal.
Female: This is a great segue into digging deeper into Dr. Wenglar's work.
Male: Awesome.
Female: After a quick break, we'll be back to explore his book, Aligning Purpose.
Male: Okay.
Female: And we'll uncover some practical takeaways that you can use in your own leadership journey.
Male: Sounds great.
Female: Stay with us.
Male: All right. So, you know, before the break, we were talking about how the business world has changed so much.
Male: Yeah. And how a leader like Al Dunlap would probably really struggle to survive in today's environment. Right. This is where Dr. Wenglor's ideas about purpose driven leadership become like super valuable.
Female: It really sounds like aligning purpose is more than just a feel good philosophy.
Male: Oh, yeah. It's
Female: like an actual roadmap for building a successful and sustainable business in today's world.
Male: Yeah, that's exactly right.
Female: Yeah,
Male: I mean, Dr. Wendler's book really dives deep into how aligning your actions with a deeper purpose can create tangible benefits.
Female: Okay. [00:15:00]
Male: It's about building trust, fostering innovation, and cultivating resilience, all qualities that are essential for dealing with. You know, the complexities of today's business world.
Female: We've talked about trust a bit before, but I'd love to really understand how Dr. Wenglar connects that concept to purpose driven leadership. Why is it so important and how does it actually lead to real business results?
Male: Well, every leadership book out there talks about trust, but Dr. Wenglar doesn't just like throw the word around.
Male: He really makes the argument that when a leader embodies a purpose that goes beyond just making money. Okay. Creates a foundation of trust. Mm hmm. And that purpose has to connect with everyone, employees, customers, even investors. Right. When people believe that a leader is driven by something bigger than themselves.
Male: Yeah. They're more likely to buy into their vision.
Female: So it's not just about talking the talk, it's about walking the walk.
Male: Exactly. Yeah. It's about making your actions match your words.
Female: Okay.
Male: Take Satya Nadella at Microsoft, for example. Yeah. Good. He talks about [00:16:00] empowering and empowering. every person and organization on the planet to achieve more,
Female: right?
Male: And you can actually see Microsoft backing that up with their actions. They're investing in discussibility tools. They're supporting education initiatives. Yeah. They're making a real effort to live up to that mission.
Female: Right.
Male: And that kind of consistency builds a really strong sense of trust.
Female: It reminds me of that quote, people don't buy what you do and they buy why you do it.
Male: Oh yeah, that's a good one.
Female: And purpose really provides that why.
Male: Exactly. Purpose gives employees a sense of pride in their work. It attracts customers who share those values.
Female: Okay.
Male: And it can even encourage investors to support the company's long term vision.
Female: That makes a lot of sense. So how does Dr.
Female: Wenglar connect this idea of trust with fostering innovation within an organization?
Male: That's a great question. Oh, he argues that when people feel connected to a purpose, they're more likely to think creatively and be willing to take [00:17:00] risks.
Female: Oh, they're
Male: not just focused on hitting those quarterly targets, right?
Female: They're
Male: driven by a desire to make a real difference.
Female: Yeah.
Male: Which often leads to some pretty groundbreaking ideas.
Female: Can you give us an example of a company where we see this happening? Sure, look at Tesla. Okay.
Male: Their mission is to accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy.
Female: Mm hmm. It's a pretty
Male: bold purpose.
Female: Yeah.
Male: And it's clearly driving their innovation.
Female: Right.
Male: I mean, they're not just building cars, they're totally reimagining transportation and pushing the boundaries of what's possible with electric vehicles and renewable energy.
Female: It's like they have this North Star guiding their innovation efforts, and it lets them think bigger and bolder to take on those challenges that other companies might be afraid of.
Male: Exactly. And it's not just something you see at tech companies. Oh,
Female: okay.
Male: Look at Patagonia, for example.
Female: Okay.
Male: Their mission is to build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm. Mm
Female: hmm.
Male: And use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis. Wow. [00:18:00] And that purpose has led them to, like, pioneer sustainable manufacturing processes.
Male: Yeah. And even encourage their customers to buy less.
Female: That's amazing. They're not afraid to challenge the status quo. Okay, so we've covered trust and innovation.
Male: Yeah.
Female: What about resilience? Okay. How does Dr. Wenglar think purpose helps companies bounce back from setbacks?
Male: Well, resilience is all about adapting to change, learning from mistakes and bouncing back from tough times.
Male: A strong sense of purpose gives you that inner strength to get through challenges. Okay. It reminds you of why you're doing what you're doing. Even when things get really difficult,
Female: it's like an anchor.
Male: Yeah, that
Female: keeps you grounded during a storm
Male: exact Think about Johnson and Johnson in the Tylenol crisis.
Female: Mm hmm
Male: back in the 80s.
Female: Okay,
Male: they were facing a potentially disastrous situation
Female: Right,
Male: and they could have easily just focused on short term profits and tried to hide what happened Mm hmm, but instead they chose to act in line with their credo which puts the well being of the people they serve first They pulled [00:19:00] millions of bottles of Tylenol off the shelves.
Female: Wow.
Male: Which cost them a fortune.
Female: Yeah.
Male: But ultimately, they came out of that crisis stronger than ever.
Female: Because they chose to prioritize purpose over profit.
Male: Exactly. And that's a lesson that's more relevant than ever today.
Female: Yeah.
Male: In a world that's constantly changing with all these unforeseen challenges popping up all the time.
Male: Mm hmm. Pandemics, economic downturns, social and political upheaval.
Female: Yeah. Companies need that sense of purpose to stay grounded and weather those storms. You
Male: do.
Female: So it sounds like purpose driven leadership isn't just a nice thing to have. It's crucial for any company that wants to succeed in the long run.
Male: I completely agree. And Dr. Wenglar offers a really compelling plan for how leaders can make purpose a part of their organizations. It affects everything from strategic planning to employee engagement to how you approach innovation. But there's another really important piece to this that we haven't talked about yet.
Male: Ethics.
Female: And this is where Dr. Wenglor's focus on the Golden Rule comes in, right?
Male: [00:20:00] Yeah. That's a big part of it.
Female: Treating others how you would want to be treated.
Male: Right. But it goes beyond just individual interactions.
Female: Okay.
Male: It's about creating an ethical culture that's woven into the whole organization. Yeah.
Male: It's about making decisions that aren't just good for profits.
Female: Right.
Male: But also good for employees, customers, the community, and the planet.
Female: That sounds amazing.
Male: Yeah.
Female: But how do you actually build that kind of ethical culture?
Male: It's definitely a challenge.
Female: Yeah.
Male: But it is possible, and as we've been discussing, it all starts with leadership.
Female: Okay.
Male: Leaders have to be the example of ethical behavior. They have to hold themselves and others accountable.
Female: Right.
Male: And they need to create systems and processes that reinforce those values.
Female: Yeah.
Male: Dr. Wenglar points out some great examples of companies that are doing this really well.
Female: I'd love to hear about them.
Female: Who are some of these companies?
Male: We've already talked about Johnson and Johnson. Of course, they're Classic example, but there are others like Marriott International, known for their commitment to employee well being and customer [00:21:00] satisfaction. And then there's IBM, which has a long history of ethical business practices.
Female: Those are all pretty well established companies.
Male: Yeah.
Female: Do you think it's easier for companies that have been around for a while to embrace ethical leadership?
Male: It might seem that way. Yeah. But newer companies actually have a unique chance to build ethical practices into their DNA right from the start.
Female: Oh, okay.
Male: Think about companies like Patagonia or Ben and Jerry's. They've been purpose driven and ethically minded since day one. Right. And it's been a key part of their success.
Female: It makes you wonder if a company like Enron, which was built on deception and greed,
Male: could
Female: even exist in today's world.
Male: That's a really interesting question.
Female: Yeah.
Male: I mean, with all the transparency and accountability we have now, thanks in part to social media and independent journalism. Right. It would be way harder for a company like Enron to get away with their unethical practices for very long.
Female: It feels like there's a kind of collective awareness now.
Male: Yeah.
Female: You know, a [00:22:00] heightened sensitivity to ethical issues that just wasn't as common back then.
Male: Exactly. And companies that choose to ignore that awareness do it at their own peril. Consumers are more informed and discerning than ever. They want to support companies that reflect their values.
Female: And employees do too.
Male: Yeah.
Female: People want to work for companies that are making a positive impact.
Male: Totally. And that leads us to another really important aspect of purpose driven leadership. It's impact on employee engagement.
Female: We've talked about a lot of external factors, so I'm really curious to hear how purpose affects things inside an organization.
Male: Okay.
Female: How does it specifically impact employee engagement?
Male: Well, think about it when you feel like your work has meaning. Mm
Female: hmm.
Male: When you're connected to a purpose that really resonates with you personally.
Female: Yeah.
Male: You're going to be more engaged, more motivated. Yeah. You're not just punching the clock.
Female: Right.
Male: You're contributing to something bigger than yourself.
Female: It's the difference between having a job and having a calling.
Male: That's a perfect way to put it. [00:23:00] Purpose can give you that sense of calling.
Female: Yeah.
Male: We see it with companies like Google and Salesforce. Okay. They have really clear purposes that help them attract and keep top talent.
Male: So
Female: it's a win win. Yeah. Engaged employees are good for the company.
Male: Right.
Female: And that sense of purpose is good for employees.
Male: Exactly. So, But how do you actually cultivate that sense of purpose across a whole organization? That's
Female: a good question.
Male: Communication is key. Leaders need to clearly explain the company's purpose and show how it connects to the work that everyone does every single day.
Female: Okay.
Male: But it goes beyond just talking about it. Yeah. It's about giving employees opportunities to experience that purpose for themselves. Like
Female: what kind of opportunity?
Male: Things like letting employees volunteer in their communities. Okay. Recognizing and rewarding those who really live the company's values, even offering paid time off so employees can work on passion projects that align with the company's mission.
Female: So it's about making purpose something real, something employees can see and [00:24:00] feel in their everyday work.
Male: Exactly. And when you do that. Yeah. You create a culture where people are showing up not just for a paycheck,
Female: right?
Male: But because they actually want to make a difference.
Female: We've covered a lot here.
Male: We have.
Female: We've talked about trust, innovation, resilience, ethics, employee engagement. That seems like all of these things are connected and that they all point back to the power of purpose.
Male: Absolutely. And I think it's important to remember that. Purpose driven leadership isn't a one size fits all solution. Right.
Male: It takes effort, commitment, and a willingness to constantly adapt and change.
Female: So it's not just about checking a box and moving on.
Male: Not at all. It's a journey, not a destination. And it's a journey that's becoming more and more important for any company that wants to achieve lasting success.
Female: I love that it's a journey.
Female: This has been so insightful.
Male: Yeah, it has.
Female: As we're wrapping up this part of our deep dive, what are some of the key takeaways that you hope our listeners will walk away with?
Male: So we've really gone deep on this topic of purpose [00:25:00] driven leadership.
Female: Yeah, we have.
Male: Explored the philosophy, the benefits, looked at real world examples.
Male: What worked? What didn't?
Female: Yeah.
Male: Now, as we wrap things up, okay, what does this all mean for you? The listener?
Ty: Yeah.
Male: You know, whether you're leading a team, running a company or just trying to figure out your own career path, right? What are some key takeaways that you can actually use? I think the biggest takeaway is this purpose driven leadership isn't just some fluffy feel good concept,
Female: right?
Male: It's a real strategic advantage success in today's world.
Female: It's not just about being nice. It's about building a business that's sustainable, resilient, ethical and built to last.
Male: Exactly. While someone like Jack Welch was really successful in his time, the world has changed.
Female: Yeah.
Male: Leaders today have to adapt to a way more transparent environment.
Male: Yeah. Where they're accountable to a lot more people,
Female: right? And values like sustainability and social responsibility. Yeah, those aren't just buzzwords anymore.
Male: They really matter.
Female: They do. And we can't forget the impact of social media and all those independent voices out there.
Male: Oh, [00:26:00] yeah.
Female: You know, they hold leaders accountable instantly and shape how the public sees them
Male: in
Female: a way that just wasn't possible before.
Male: So true. So as you're thinking about your own leadership style.
Female: Okay.
Male: Or the kind of leadership you experience at work.
Female: Mm hmm.
Male: Ask yourself, where does purpose fit into all of this?
Female: Yeah.
Male: Is it helping or is it hurting?
Female: Right.
Male: How can you use these insights to create a more positive and impactful future? Mm hmm.
Male: For yourself and for everyone around you.
Female: Those are some really powerful questions for all of us to think about. Yeah. And if you're interested in learning more about this topic,
Male: I
Female: highly recommend checking out Dr. Wenglar's work.
Male: Yeah, for sure.
Female: His website is Book Aligning Purpose and his podcast, The Purpose and Profit Podcast.
Female: Lots
Male: of good stuff there.
Female: Yeah, a ton of valuable insights for anyone who wants to lead with purpose and make a real difference.
Male: Couldn't agree more.
Female: Thanks for joining us on this deep dive.
Male: It's been great.
Female: We'll be back soon with another fascinating exploration.
Male: Awesome.
Female: Until then, keep learning, keep questioning, [00:27:00] and keep diving deeper.
Ty: And you're back with Ty. I I hope you enjoyed the discussion as much as, as much as I did hearing it. Like I said, it was, it was really interesting and in some ways reassuring that, an AI model, didn't it? isn't going to tell me what I want to hear. It's straight analysis. Well, that it agreed and and it articulated the same impact of purpose driven leadership and the mission of Lucentra, as I, as I did.
Ty: It was a reminder of why this work is so important and why it matters. So if today's message inspired you, please like and share the podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite platform. Together, we can amplify the impact of purpose driven leadership. You deserve clarity, confidence, and strategies that align profit with purpose.
Ty: And if you're ready to take the next step, well, visit us at [00:28:00] www. lucentraprofitadvisors. com. and book a consultation. It's free. We can talk a little more about your situation and, and if, and what Lucentra can do for you. Transformation though, begins with the right tools. So I'm offering, my book, the profit optimization handbook.
Ty: Hey, it's a free resource. It's filled with actionable insights. Just go to www. lucentra. com. Profitadvisors. com backslash free dash book. You do have to put in your email, but if you don't want to get emails in the future, all you got to do is opt out. No big deal. Next week we will explore the future of purpose driven leadership from AI to diversity and sustainability.
Ty: It is a conversation you don't want to miss. So until next time, stay focused, stay connected and lead with purpose.
Ty: Of Lucentra Advisors, my past books, me as a, as a speaker, and what makes this conversation particularly fascinating is that it features, well, AI generated personalities. These personalities are designed to analyze and present the insights with clarity, precision, and most importantly, without any bias.
Ty: And you know, while they're not human. The depth of discussion and the way they connect the ideas to real world leadership challenges, [00:01:00] well, it's nothing short of remarkable. I mean, it is in perfect alignment. Alignment means a lot to me, obviously, with the way I'm thinking. The session explores the core themes behind my books, particularly aligning purpose around what we do at Lucentra Advisors, you know, aligning purpose with strategy, foster innovation, drive sustainable long term growth.
Ty: Profit acceleration and optimization. And it also contrasts purpose driven leadership with some of the traditional profit first models, like the old, everybody remembers Jack Welch, offers a fresh perspective on how alignment and clarity can transform organizations. It was honestly quite humbling to hear this analysis that's being done by AI and see how purpose driven leadership is becoming a universal framework for ethical and effective business practices.[00:02:00]
Ty: So, with all that said, whether you're a season's leader, an entrepreneur, or just Curious about how purpose can reshape the way we work and, and honestly, the way we live life. Well, this conversation has got something for you. So without further ado, let's dive into the discussion. Like I said, produced by the studio at Google network, about the work we're doing at Lucentra and the principles that guide us and guide me.
Female: Hey, everyone. Welcome back to the deep dive. You know, we always try to dig beneath the surface. And today we're going to look past the typical buzzwords and really get into what drives purpose driven leadership.
Male: Yeah, for sure.
Female: You know, it's more than just like a nice slogan. Oh,
Male: yeah.
Female: So we've got a ton of great material to work with, we've got excerpts from Dr.
Female: Ty Wenglar's website and his book, Aligning Purpose. We've also got some information about his firm, Lucentra Advisors, and then we also have some analysis that compares a bunch of different CEO [00:03:00] approaches, but particularly how those approaches compare to the profit first leadership model that Jack Welch was so famous for.
Male: It's you know, it's really interesting to see how relevant this topic is right now.
Female: Oh, yeah.
Male: We're kind of in a business world that's shifting gears. There's way more emphasis on the long game now, creating value that lasts instead of just chasing, you know, those quick profits.
Female: Yeah, I think it's a much needed shift.
Male: Totally.
Female: So our goal today is to kind of help you understand purpose driven leadership. What it means, how it can lead to innovation, shape a company's culture, and how it stacks up against some of those more traditional leadership styles. Awesome. So to start off, let's just get to know Dr. Ty Wenglar a little bit.
Female: Okay. The thing that really stood out to me was his background. He's not like your typical leadership expert.
Male: Definitely not. I
Female: do agree.
Male: Yeah, he really embodies this idea of a player coach.
Female: Yeah.
Male: Which is really intriguing on its own.
Female: I love that.
Male: He's had such a successful career as a construction executive, tons of [00:04:00] experience and development.
Male: Mm hmm. But he's also a scholar who's really serious about researching leadership ethics and practices.
Female: So he's got that real world experience and the academic background to back it all up. Exactly. Even his dissertation title was Exploring the Intersection of Ethical and Virtuous Leadership.
Male: Wow. That's deep.
Female: It shows you how deeply he thinks about this stuff.
Male: Yeah. It's
Female: clear he's also really passionate about teaching and mentoring, which you can really see in his book, Aligning Purpose.
Male: I think Aligning Purpose really seems to be the core of his philosophy.
Female: Yeah.
Male: And it couldn't be more timely.
Female: Yeah.
Male: The book digs deep into how important it is to align your actions with a deeper sense of purpose.
Male: And that totally aligns with the way that businesses are starting to prioritize long term value creation. Dr. Wenglar provides really practical advice, case studies, strategies.
Female: Yeah.
Male: It's like a toolkit for leaders who want to build trust, create space for innovation, and build that resilience within their [00:05:00] organizations.
Female: Yeah, and here's where things get really interesting for me.
Male: Okay.
Female: Dr. Wenglar talks a lot about the golden rule in leadership. Okay. Treating others how you would like to be treated. Yeah. Seems so simple.
Male: Right.
Female: But you know, how often do we really see that in action, especially at the highest levels?
Male: It's a deceptively simple concept.
Female: Right.
Male: But think about the potential impact.
Female: Yeah.
Male: I mean, if a leader truly embodies that principle.
Female: Yeah.
Male: It can have like this ripple effect throughout the whole organization. You're talking about building real trust, fostering this positive environment where people feel valued and even driving up employee engagement and collaboration.
Male: Yeah. And it could even lead to building a more ethical and sustainable business model, which is like huge nowadays.
Female: Yeah, that's a really good point. I'm really fascinated by how he connects the golden rule to a more ethical way of doing business. Yeah. It's not a perspective you really hear a lot in those like typical traditional leadership discussions.
Female: Right. But let's contrast this approach with the approach of someone like Jack Welch, who was known for being super [00:06:00] successful.
Male: Yeah.
Female: But sometimes really ruthless as the leader of GE.
Male: Yeah, Jack Welch was definitely a pro at driving shareholder value. Yeah. I mean, GE's market cap like exploded while he was at the helm.
Female: Yeah.
Male: But there's been a lot of debate about the lasting effects of his methods.
Female: Oh, really? What kind of debate?
Male: Well, this main focus was aggressive cost cutting restructuring, and he was always pushing to maximize shareholder value. And while this tactics led to, you know, impressive gains in the short term, some people argue that they came at a cost.
Female: Oh, really?
Male: You know, potentially sacrificing long term stability, even creating cultural issues within GE.
Female: Oh, wow.
Male: There's been some analysis of CEOs who actually tried to follow in Welch's footsteps.
Female: Okay.
Male: And the results are kind of a mixed bag.
Female: Really? Like, what happened?
Male: Well, you've got Al Dunlap, nicknamed Chainsaw Al, for his extreme focus on cost cutting at Sunbeam.
Female: Right.
Male: Initially profits went up, but then the company started to struggle with innovation, and employee [00:07:00] morale just tanked.
Female: So it seems like focusing solely on profits can actually backfire.
Male: Yeah, a lot of times it does. Wow. Then there's Carly Fiorina at HP. Okay. Her merger with Compaq was a big deal at the time.
Male: Yeah. And it actually led to tons of integration issues and clashes in the company culture. Oh,
Female: wow.
Male: Ultimately, HP lost its edge in the market.
Female: Yeah.
Male: And of course, how can we forget Jeffrey Skilling at Enron?
Female: Oh, yeah.
Male: I mean, all that financial engineering and aggressive risk taking to boost the stock price.
Male: Right. We all know how that ended.
Female: Yeah. Yeah. That did not end well.
Male: It seems like there's this pattern here.
Female: Mm hmm.
Male: A focus on short term gains that actually undermines a company's long term vision.
Female: They traded long term stability for like a quick bump.
Male: Right.
Female: And it caught up to them.
Male: Yeah. And think about Fiorina at HP again.
Female: Okay.
Male: HP was known for being innovative. Mm
Female: hmm. Mm hmm.
Male: But that merger with Compaq created so much internal chaos that it really hurt their ability to stay ahead of the game.
Female: Yeah.
Male: It makes you wonder if those short term wins actually pushed them [00:08:00] further away from their original mission.
Female: That's a good point.
Male: Yeah.
Female: Now imagine these leaders trying to operate in today's world, you know. Yeah. With social media, independent journalism, influencer culture. Oh yeah. That's a whole different
Male: game. A whole different ballgame. A leader like Jack Welch. Would be under a microscope. Oh,
Female: yeah.
Male: There's so much more transparency and scrutiny now, and employees have a way stronger voice through platforms like Glassdoor.
Female: Right.
Male: Leaders can't really control the narrative the way they used to.
Female: Yeah, it's like instant accountability. Like if a disgruntled employee Tweet something and it goes viral or an influencer criticizes the company's environmental practices to millions of followers, you can't, you know, there's no time to like, try to spin the story, you have to respond and it has to be authentic.
Male: And it goes beyond just public image to investors and consumers are making decisions based on values like social responsibility and sustainability, that whole purely. Profit driven approach
Female: just
Male: might not cut it anymore.
Female: We're seeing it play out in [00:09:00] real time with Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter.
Male: Totally.
Female: You know, his cost cutting and mass layoffs, which were aimed at making Twitter profitable, were amplified online and just caused a ton of backlash, which hurt both his reputation and the company's.
Male: Yeah, for sure.
Female: It's really interesting to think about how leadership styles that maybe worked in the past just might not fly today.
Male: It makes you wonder if someone like Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, would have been as successful back in Walsh's era. You know, his focus on culture transformation and long term investments like Azure might have been seen as too soft back then. But today, Microsoft is doing incredibly well.
Female: Yeah, and on the other hand, Could a leader like Elon Musk, who's obviously super innovative and bold, but also super controversial.
Male: Yeah.
Female: Could he have pulled off what he's done back in like the 80s
Male: or 90s? That's a good question.
Female: You know, it was such a different time, no social media, different market environment, different cultural expectations.
Male: I doubt it. Yeah. Which kind of brings us to what I [00:10:00] think is like the ultimate anti Welch Al Dunlap.
Female: Okay.
Male: He's almost like a textbook example of what wouldn't work in today's business world.
Female: So Dunlap was all about extreme cost cutting and putting shareholder value above everything else.
Male: Yeah.
Female: Even if it meant creating a really toxic work environment.
Male: Right.
Female: But what makes you so sure he wouldn't make it today?
Male: Well, today, there's all this emphasis on social responsibility, employee empowerment, what's known as ESG principles, things that investors and consumers really, really care about.
Female: Yeah.
Male: Dunlap's approach would be so out of touch with all of that.
Female: So you're saying in today's world, someone like Dunlap would face some serious consequences.
Male: Imagine this, Dunlap announces mass layoffs at a company.
Female: Okay.
Male: Within hours, it's all over Twitter. Former employees are sharing their horror stories. Yeah. Influencers are bashing the decision.
Female: Oh, wow.
Male: News outlets are jumping on the story. Yeah. Investors, especially those focused on ESG principles, start pulling their money out.
Female: Yeah.
Male: Consumers are [00:11:00] influenced by what they're seeing online. Right. It might even boycott the company's products.
Female: Wow.
Male: It would be a total PR nightmare.
Female: And probably a financial one, too.
Male: Exactly. And it wouldn't end there. Oh, no. You'd see increased regulatory scrutiny probably leading to investigations and fines.
Female: Oh, my god. The
Male: company culture would completely fall apart as all the talented employees start looking for better places to work.
Female: Yeah.
Male: Basically, Dunlap's whole approach would backfire spectacularly.
Female: It's a huge contrast to that whole purpose driven approach we were talking about earlier.
Male: Definitely.
Female: Really shows you how much the business world has changed. It's like
Male: night and day. And that's where we start to see the real power behind Dr. Wenglar's philosophy.
Female: Yeah. Before we jump into that.
Male: Okay.
Female: I'm curious to get your take on something. Yeah. You know, we've been talking about these like high profile CEOs.
Female: But how does this whole concept of purpose driven leadership apply to like everyday people, you know, whether they're leading a team or just trying to navigate their own careers?
Male: That's a great question. Yeah. It's important to [00:12:00] remember that leadership isn't just about having some fancy title or managing a big team.
Male: Right. It's about influence. You know, inspiring others and working together towards a common goal.
Female: Yeah.
Male: And that's something that anyone can do no matter what their position is.
Female: So how can someone, let's say like a team leader or even like an individual contributor, start using these ideas in their own work?
Male: Well, I think it starts with understanding your own values and what you're passionate about. What kind of impact do you want to make? What problems do you want to solve?
Female: Yeah.
Male: And once you figure that out, you can start aligning your actions with those values and passions.
Female: So it's about finding your own personal purpose.
Female: Right. And letting that guide your decisions and actions.
Male: Exactly. And it's also about building relationships that are based on trust and respect. Mm
Female: hmm.
Male: Treating others how you would want to be treated, no matter what their position or title is.
Female: So it sounds like purpose driven leadership can be a really powerful tool for creating positive change.
Female: Yeah. Within [00:13:00] organizations and in the world.
Male: Totally. It's not about quick fixes or shortcuts. It's about building something that lasts and something that makes a real difference.
Female: That's awesome. This has been super insightful.
Male: Yeah.
Female: I want to touch on one more thing before we move on. Okay. You mentioned ESG principles earlier.
Female: Yeah. Could you explain exactly what those are and how they fit into this conversation?
Male: Of course, ESG stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance. And it's a framework that investors use to evaluate companies based on how sustainable and ethical they are.
Female: So it's about looking beyond just financial performance.
Male: Right. Investors are paying more and more attention to things like a company's environmental impact, how they treat their employees, and the diversity of their leadership teams.
Female: It seems like ESG investing is just a reflection of this shift towards purpose and values that we've been talking about.
Male: It definitely is.
Male: And it's becoming increasingly important. Companies that ignore ESG factors are putting themselves at a disadvantage.
Female: Yeah.
Male: Investors want to support companies that align with their values. [00:14:00] And so do consumers.
Female: It's a win, win, win situation.
Male: Yeah.
Female: Good for investors, good for consumers and good for the world.
Male: That's the goal.
Female: This is a great segue into digging deeper into Dr. Wenglar's work.
Male: Awesome.
Female: After a quick break, we'll be back to explore his book, Aligning Purpose.
Male: Okay.
Female: And we'll uncover some practical takeaways that you can use in your own leadership journey.
Male: Sounds great.
Female: Stay with us.
Male: All right. So, you know, before the break, we were talking about how the business world has changed so much.
Male: Yeah. And how a leader like Al Dunlap would probably really struggle to survive in today's environment. Right. This is where Dr. Wenglor's ideas about purpose driven leadership become like super valuable.
Female: It really sounds like aligning purpose is more than just a feel good philosophy.
Male: Oh, yeah. It's
Female: like an actual roadmap for building a successful and sustainable business in today's world.
Male: Yeah, that's exactly right.
Female: Yeah,
Male: I mean, Dr. Wendler's book really dives deep into how aligning your actions with a deeper purpose can create tangible benefits.
Female: Okay. [00:15:00]
Male: It's about building trust, fostering innovation, and cultivating resilience, all qualities that are essential for dealing with. You know, the complexities of today's business world.
Female: We've talked about trust a bit before, but I'd love to really understand how Dr. Wenglar connects that concept to purpose driven leadership. Why is it so important and how does it actually lead to real business results?
Male: Well, every leadership book out there talks about trust, but Dr. Wenglar doesn't just like throw the word around.
Male: He really makes the argument that when a leader embodies a purpose that goes beyond just making money. Okay. Creates a foundation of trust. Mm hmm. And that purpose has to connect with everyone, employees, customers, even investors. Right. When people believe that a leader is driven by something bigger than themselves.
Male: Yeah. They're more likely to buy into their vision.
Female: So it's not just about talking the talk, it's about walking the walk.
Male: Exactly. Yeah. It's about making your actions match your words.
Female: Okay.
Male: Take Satya Nadella at Microsoft, for example. Yeah. Good. He talks about [00:16:00] empowering and empowering. every person and organization on the planet to achieve more,
Female: right?
Male: And you can actually see Microsoft backing that up with their actions. They're investing in discussibility tools. They're supporting education initiatives. Yeah. They're making a real effort to live up to that mission.
Female: Right.
Male: And that kind of consistency builds a really strong sense of trust.
Female: It reminds me of that quote, people don't buy what you do and they buy why you do it.
Male: Oh yeah, that's a good one.
Female: And purpose really provides that why.
Male: Exactly. Purpose gives employees a sense of pride in their work. It attracts customers who share those values.
Female: Okay.
Male: And it can even encourage investors to support the company's long term vision.
Female: That makes a lot of sense. So how does Dr.
Female: Wenglar connect this idea of trust with fostering innovation within an organization?
Male: That's a great question. Oh, he argues that when people feel connected to a purpose, they're more likely to think creatively and be willing to take [00:17:00] risks.
Female: Oh, they're
Male: not just focused on hitting those quarterly targets, right?
Female: They're
Male: driven by a desire to make a real difference.
Female: Yeah.
Male: Which often leads to some pretty groundbreaking ideas.
Female: Can you give us an example of a company where we see this happening? Sure, look at Tesla. Okay.
Male: Their mission is to accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy.
Female: Mm hmm. It's a pretty
Male: bold purpose.
Female: Yeah.
Male: And it's clearly driving their innovation.
Female: Right.
Male: I mean, they're not just building cars, they're totally reimagining transportation and pushing the boundaries of what's possible with electric vehicles and renewable energy.
Female: It's like they have this North Star guiding their innovation efforts, and it lets them think bigger and bolder to take on those challenges that other companies might be afraid of.
Male: Exactly. And it's not just something you see at tech companies. Oh,
Female: okay.
Male: Look at Patagonia, for example.
Female: Okay.
Male: Their mission is to build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm. Mm
Female: hmm.
Male: And use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis. Wow. [00:18:00] And that purpose has led them to, like, pioneer sustainable manufacturing processes.
Male: Yeah. And even encourage their customers to buy less.
Female: That's amazing. They're not afraid to challenge the status quo. Okay, so we've covered trust and innovation.
Male: Yeah.
Female: What about resilience? Okay. How does Dr. Wenglar think purpose helps companies bounce back from setbacks?
Male: Well, resilience is all about adapting to change, learning from mistakes and bouncing back from tough times.
Male: A strong sense of purpose gives you that inner strength to get through challenges. Okay. It reminds you of why you're doing what you're doing. Even when things get really difficult,
Female: it's like an anchor.
Male: Yeah, that
Female: keeps you grounded during a storm
Male: exact Think about Johnson and Johnson in the Tylenol crisis.
Female: Mm hmm
Male: back in the 80s.
Female: Okay,
Male: they were facing a potentially disastrous situation
Female: Right,
Male: and they could have easily just focused on short term profits and tried to hide what happened Mm hmm, but instead they chose to act in line with their credo which puts the well being of the people they serve first They pulled [00:19:00] millions of bottles of Tylenol off the shelves.
Female: Wow.
Male: Which cost them a fortune.
Female: Yeah.
Male: But ultimately, they came out of that crisis stronger than ever.
Female: Because they chose to prioritize purpose over profit.
Male: Exactly. And that's a lesson that's more relevant than ever today.
Female: Yeah.
Male: In a world that's constantly changing with all these unforeseen challenges popping up all the time.
Male: Mm hmm. Pandemics, economic downturns, social and political upheaval.
Female: Yeah. Companies need that sense of purpose to stay grounded and weather those storms. You
Male: do.
Female: So it sounds like purpose driven leadership isn't just a nice thing to have. It's crucial for any company that wants to succeed in the long run.
Male: I completely agree. And Dr. Wenglar offers a really compelling plan for how leaders can make purpose a part of their organizations. It affects everything from strategic planning to employee engagement to how you approach innovation. But there's another really important piece to this that we haven't talked about yet.
Male: Ethics.
Female: And this is where Dr. Wenglor's focus on the Golden Rule comes in, right?
Male: [00:20:00] Yeah. That's a big part of it.
Female: Treating others how you would want to be treated.
Male: Right. But it goes beyond just individual interactions.
Female: Okay.
Male: It's about creating an ethical culture that's woven into the whole organization. Yeah.
Male: It's about making decisions that aren't just good for profits.
Female: Right.
Male: But also good for employees, customers, the community, and the planet.
Female: That sounds amazing.
Male: Yeah.
Female: But how do you actually build that kind of ethical culture?
Male: It's definitely a challenge.
Female: Yeah.
Male: But it is possible, and as we've been discussing, it all starts with leadership.
Female: Okay.
Male: Leaders have to be the example of ethical behavior. They have to hold themselves and others accountable.
Female: Right.
Male: And they need to create systems and processes that reinforce those values.
Female: Yeah.
Male: Dr. Wenglar points out some great examples of companies that are doing this really well.
Female: I'd love to hear about them.
Female: Who are some of these companies?
Male: We've already talked about Johnson and Johnson. Of course, they're Classic example, but there are others like Marriott International, known for their commitment to employee well being and customer [00:21:00] satisfaction. And then there's IBM, which has a long history of ethical business practices.
Female: Those are all pretty well established companies.
Male: Yeah.
Female: Do you think it's easier for companies that have been around for a while to embrace ethical leadership?
Male: It might seem that way. Yeah. But newer companies actually have a unique chance to build ethical practices into their DNA right from the start.
Female: Oh, okay.
Male: Think about companies like Patagonia or Ben and Jerry's. They've been purpose driven and ethically minded since day one. Right. And it's been a key part of their success.
Female: It makes you wonder if a company like Enron, which was built on deception and greed,
Male: could
Female: even exist in today's world.
Male: That's a really interesting question.
Female: Yeah.
Male: I mean, with all the transparency and accountability we have now, thanks in part to social media and independent journalism. Right. It would be way harder for a company like Enron to get away with their unethical practices for very long.
Female: It feels like there's a kind of collective awareness now.
Male: Yeah.
Female: You know, a [00:22:00] heightened sensitivity to ethical issues that just wasn't as common back then.
Male: Exactly. And companies that choose to ignore that awareness do it at their own peril. Consumers are more informed and discerning than ever. They want to support companies that reflect their values.
Female: And employees do too.
Male: Yeah.
Female: People want to work for companies that are making a positive impact.
Male: Totally. And that leads us to another really important aspect of purpose driven leadership. It's impact on employee engagement.
Female: We've talked about a lot of external factors, so I'm really curious to hear how purpose affects things inside an organization.
Male: Okay.
Female: How does it specifically impact employee engagement?
Male: Well, think about it when you feel like your work has meaning. Mm
Female: hmm.
Male: When you're connected to a purpose that really resonates with you personally.
Female: Yeah.
Male: You're going to be more engaged, more motivated. Yeah. You're not just punching the clock.
Female: Right.
Male: You're contributing to something bigger than yourself.
Female: It's the difference between having a job and having a calling.
Male: That's a perfect way to put it. [00:23:00] Purpose can give you that sense of calling.
Female: Yeah.
Male: We see it with companies like Google and Salesforce. Okay. They have really clear purposes that help them attract and keep top talent.
Male: So
Female: it's a win win. Yeah. Engaged employees are good for the company.
Male: Right.
Female: And that sense of purpose is good for employees.
Male: Exactly. So, But how do you actually cultivate that sense of purpose across a whole organization? That's
Female: a good question.
Male: Communication is key. Leaders need to clearly explain the company's purpose and show how it connects to the work that everyone does every single day.
Female: Okay.
Male: But it goes beyond just talking about it. Yeah. It's about giving employees opportunities to experience that purpose for themselves. Like
Female: what kind of opportunity?
Male: Things like letting employees volunteer in their communities. Okay. Recognizing and rewarding those who really live the company's values, even offering paid time off so employees can work on passion projects that align with the company's mission.
Female: So it's about making purpose something real, something employees can see and [00:24:00] feel in their everyday work.
Male: Exactly. And when you do that. Yeah. You create a culture where people are showing up not just for a paycheck,
Female: right?
Male: But because they actually want to make a difference.
Female: We've covered a lot here.
Male: We have.
Female: We've talked about trust, innovation, resilience, ethics, employee engagement. That seems like all of these things are connected and that they all point back to the power of purpose.
Male: Absolutely. And I think it's important to remember that. Purpose driven leadership isn't a one size fits all solution. Right.
Male: It takes effort, commitment, and a willingness to constantly adapt and change.
Female: So it's not just about checking a box and moving on.
Male: Not at all. It's a journey, not a destination. And it's a journey that's becoming more and more important for any company that wants to achieve lasting success.
Female: I love that it's a journey.
Female: This has been so insightful.
Male: Yeah, it has.
Female: As we're wrapping up this part of our deep dive, what are some of the key takeaways that you hope our listeners will walk away with?
Male: So we've really gone deep on this topic of purpose [00:25:00] driven leadership.
Female: Yeah, we have.
Male: Explored the philosophy, the benefits, looked at real world examples.
Male: What worked? What didn't?
Female: Yeah.
Male: Now, as we wrap things up, okay, what does this all mean for you? The listener?
Ty: Yeah.
Male: You know, whether you're leading a team, running a company or just trying to figure out your own career path, right? What are some key takeaways that you can actually use? I think the biggest takeaway is this purpose driven leadership isn't just some fluffy feel good concept,
Female: right?
Male: It's a real strategic advantage success in today's world.
Female: It's not just about being nice. It's about building a business that's sustainable, resilient, ethical and built to last.
Male: Exactly. While someone like Jack Welch was really successful in his time, the world has changed.
Female: Yeah.
Male: Leaders today have to adapt to a way more transparent environment.
Male: Yeah. Where they're accountable to a lot more people,
Female: right? And values like sustainability and social responsibility. Yeah, those aren't just buzzwords anymore.
Male: They really matter.
Female: They do. And we can't forget the impact of social media and all those independent voices out there.
Male: Oh, [00:26:00] yeah.
Female: You know, they hold leaders accountable instantly and shape how the public sees them
Male: in
Female: a way that just wasn't possible before.
Male: So true. So as you're thinking about your own leadership style.
Female: Okay.
Male: Or the kind of leadership you experience at work.
Female: Mm hmm.
Male: Ask yourself, where does purpose fit into all of this?
Female: Yeah.
Male: Is it helping or is it hurting?
Female: Right.
Male: How can you use these insights to create a more positive and impactful future? Mm hmm.
Male: For yourself and for everyone around you.
Female: Those are some really powerful questions for all of us to think about. Yeah. And if you're interested in learning more about this topic,
Male: I
Female: highly recommend checking out Dr. Wenglar's work.
Male: Yeah, for sure.
Female: His website is Book Aligning Purpose and his podcast, The Purpose and Profit Podcast.
Female: Lots
Male: of good stuff there.
Female: Yeah, a ton of valuable insights for anyone who wants to lead with purpose and make a real difference.
Male: Couldn't agree more.
Female: Thanks for joining us on this deep dive.
Male: It's been great.
Female: We'll be back soon with another fascinating exploration.
Male: Awesome.
Female: Until then, keep learning, keep questioning, [00:27:00] and keep diving deeper.
Ty: And you're back with Ty. I I hope you enjoyed the discussion as much as, as much as I did hearing it. Like I said, it was, it was really interesting and in some ways reassuring that, an AI model, didn't it? isn't going to tell me what I want to hear. It's straight analysis. Well, that it agreed and and it articulated the same impact of purpose driven leadership and the mission of Lucentra, as I, as I did.
Ty: It was a reminder of why this work is so important and why it matters. So if today's message inspired you, please like and share the podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite platform. Together, we can amplify the impact of purpose driven leadership. You deserve clarity, confidence, and strategies that align profit with purpose.
Ty: And if you're ready to take the next step, well, visit us at [00:28:00] www. lucentraprofitadvisors. com. and book a consultation. It's free. We can talk a little more about your situation and, and if, and what Lucentra can do for you. Transformation though, begins with the right tools. So I'm offering, my book, the profit optimization handbook.
Ty: Hey, it's a free resource. It's filled with actionable insights. Just go to www. lucentra. com. Profitadvisors. com backslash free dash book. You do have to put in your email, but if you don't want to get emails in the future, all you got to do is opt out. No big deal. Next week we will explore the future of purpose driven leadership from AI to diversity and sustainability.
Ty: It is a conversation you don't want to miss. So until next time, stay focused, stay connected and lead with purpose.
