The Power of Purpose

The February issue of HR Magazine hit the nail on the head with Haley Rushing's article, "Managing with the Power of Purpose." The central theme of the article suggests that a successful career and a successful business begin with a sense of purpose for what the employees are doing. Yes, the goal of any business is to make money. However, unless the employee working for that business believes in what they are doing, and are inspired by the goals and objectives of the business, the profit will not come.

Elder Care Guides is proud of our mission statement, which centers on bringing purpose to our clients and employees:

We better the lives of elders in San Diego County living with functional impairments by providing professional care management services that center on the goals of the individual, and foster within the elder a lifelong sense of purpose. We believe that:

• by cultivating every client’s unique sense of purpose, we help them develop a meaningful elderhood with a high quality of life.
• by identifying and reinforcing the strengths of our clients, we promote the development of healthy relationships of interdependence amongst the elder, their family, and other supports.
• our employees are fundamental to our success, and their full engagement enhances the services we provide.
• professional caregivers who are employed by an agency and work as a team with a geriatric care manager deliver the best outcomes for our clients.
• the standards and ethics of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers provide a solid foundation for our clinical and business practices.

Defining a company culture begins with the company's purpose. Key questions the Rushing article posed include:

• Why does the organization exist?
• What difference is the organization making in people's lives?
• What do the employees strive for, and do their goals match the organizations goals?

Employees are an organization's most important clients. Guiding employees to define their own sense of purpose, then showing them how their desires align with the companies mission and vision is the central component of a successful business. Master that connection, and the revenue will follow.