Uncovering Your Sense of Purpose: The Key to Leading Yourself
Have you ever wondered what drives the choices you make every day? Why some goals feel effortless while others require enormous effort? At T2, we believe that understanding your sense of purpose is the starting point for unlocking your full potential—both as a leader and as a person.
A strong sense of purpose shapes your personality, influences your behaviour, and provides the drive needed to achieve your goals while making a meaningful contribution. It’s the foundation for personal growth, resilience, and sustained performance.
Desire vs. Fear: The Two Forces That Drive Us
Through our work with leaders and teams across industries, we’ve identified two powerful emotions that motivate human behaviour: desire and fear.
Desire pulls you toward positive outcomes—the thrill of success, the joy of achieving a goal, or the satisfaction of making an impact.
Fear pushes you away from negative outcomes—the dread of failure, the struggle of not being enough, or the pain of falling short.
Both can be incredibly motivating, but while fear may provide a short-term boost, a purpose driven by desire often leads to long-lasting fulfillment and sustainable performance.
The Four Drivers of Purpose
These emotions manifest in four distinct drivers that underpin our actions:
Drivers of Purpose Wheel
To Prove – Driven by a desire to validate yourself or challenge expectations.
To Provide – Focused on supporting others, whether family, colleagues, or the community.
To Achieve – Motivated by goals, recognition, and measurable success.
To Avoid – Propelled by the need to prevent failure, struggle, or negative outcomes.
Understanding which of these drives your behaviour can give you clarity about why you do what you do—and how to harness it for success.
How Life Shapes Your Purpose
Your sense of purpose often emerges from significant life experiences—both challenging and positive. Tough times build resilience and insight, while achievements and fulfilling experiences reinforce motivation and confidence. Recognising these influences helps you connect your past experiences to your present actions and future ambitions.
Uncover Your Purpose
To discover your own sense of purpose, go beyond the “what” and “how” of your actions—dig into your “why.” Ask yourself:
What is the ultimate goal I am striving for right now?
What will achieving this goal give me, or how will it make me feel?
Why is that outcome so important to me?
Where does this deep-seated need or desire originate from?
Once you understand the source of your motivation, you can identify whether your purpose is to prove, provide, achieve, or avoid—and use this insight to drive meaningful action.
Why It Matters for Leaders
A strong sense of purpose is not just personal—it’s professional. Leaders who understand what drives them can inspire their teams, make more aligned decisions, and cultivate a culture of engagement and performance.
At T2, we help individuals and teams explore their purpose, build self-awareness, and translate it into actionable strategies that enhance leadership, collaboration, and organisational impact.
