Leadership in purpose-driven businesses
The key to a successful business is doing something you love; no matter what that passion is, you can find a place for it in business. It’s not easy - it’s demanding and time-consuming but in the end, it’s worth it. Whether starting your own business or taking on a new leadership position, it requires determination, consistency and a positive attitude to ensure you don’t fall short in your tracks, especially when dealing with legal and other physically draining processes.
There are so many aspects that are important when you think about purpose-driven business, and it begins from the top down. One of the most important aspects is building a great team in which you need an equally great culture to match. If you begin your journey with purpose and passion, nothing can hold you back. Your attitude trickles down, so it's important to ensure that you love what you do and that you convey that. Remember that the small things matter and can go a long way. It makes all the difference in the world when you remember someone’s name, how involved you are on a daily basis and on an operational level, as well as being on-site as often as possible. It is your responsibility to ensure that your team knows you are as involved as can be, and that is one of the key factors in allowing them to trust you and your vision.
An important consideration to keep in check and always ensure that your business is going in the direction you want is to actively ask for feedback and implement changes you know team members would appreciate making their work environment better. Oftentimes, you ask for feedback through anonymous polls or questionnaires or have to wait for a certain time in a year to send out a feedback form, but a poll or questionnaire through Instagram for example is a great space to be able to instantly get micro-feedback from team members so that you can try and implement those changes as quickly as possible.
If you wake up happy every day with what you are doing, you will do everything in your power to ensure that the people around you enjoy their jobs as much as you do, you bring out the best in them and that is when you can trust them to run the daily operations while you shift your focus to the long term strategy of the company. Long-term success can be measured in different ways. Whether it’s employee turnover, revenue, or expansion - all of it contributes to long-term success, but if you want your business to succeed, measure success by your purpose. Think about how customers feel when they come to your company, how team members feel waking up every morning for work, and if they feel fulfilled, you will always have a purpose and be successful.
It is not easy and requires determination, patience, resilience and resourcefulness, but if you can start a business and work to ensure you don’t lose your vision, your business will always be purposeful, and in most cases successful.
About the author
Christine Assouad is a YPO member and CEO of Dunkin Donuts Lebanon, Semsom and The Catalyst of Growth. A serial entrepreneur, she has spent her career in the food and beverage industry and has launched multiple businesses over the past 24 years including Dunkin’ in Lebanon, Semsom, Green Falafel, Home in a Bite among others. Christine is focused on business development, franchising, and crisis management in multiple markets with Dunkin’ franchises, F&B groups, Kitopi cloud kitchens and more.
