Rosabeth Moss Kanter on Purpose-Driven Leadership, Storytelling, and Social Impact

quotThe ultimate stage in leadership is when you39re not simply maintaining what39s already happening but you39re able to make change where change is neededquot Kanter says quotI think those in top positions realize there39s much more they can be doing to achieve social impact I hope business leaders will think about their own skills and how they can use them in a broader bigger wayquotWith 20 books to her credit Kanter outlines several principles in Think Outside the Building that leaders can adopt She also answers why it39s important to take an active role for change along with challenges leaders will inevitably faceDream BigLeading with purpose starts with tapping into a dream and vision but it goes beyond a pieinthesky approach quotIt39s so important to have a big goal amp8212 one that39s inspiring and provides a sense of purpose and meaningquot Kanter says quotIf you39re not really committed and if it39s not a big enough goal that matters then why get started and why hang in when things are toughquotOne of the key factors that Kanter emphasizes is creating change not simply joining an existing cause quotThe temptation at the beginning is to just improve on what already exists But if that39s all you do you39re not solving problemsquot she says quotIt39s very hard to come in by copying something that already existsquotRecruit FollowersWe all know the phrase quotIt takes a villagequot but Kanter believes a village is too small In her words it takes quota crosssector multistakeholder coalitionquot And yes she understands that doesn39t exactly roll off the tonguequotPeople at the top in formal positions are limited in how much they can do They appear to have a lot of power but unless they motivate people at the grassroots amp8212 those within their organizations those in communities amp8212 to use their talents it39s almost impossible to get things donequot she asserts quotI think we need a much broader array of stakeholders involved in decisions because they have creative ideas and insights that come from being in very different places Putting those insights together can often create a better solutionquotCreate Stories to ConnectThere39s an art to recruiting people and it goes beyond communicating a clear idea It39s about inspiring with a story According to Kanter recruiting is essentially quota campaign to win hearts and mindsquot And to Kantar that39s what storytelling isquotYou have to engage those you39re recruiting so they feel that your dream becomes their dream That comes from doing what leaders always doquot she says quotLeaders tell stories and create narratives Leaders must see if there39s a thread or theme in the past they can bring forward explain the present and then lead to an inspiring view of the future You have to 39pitch a big tent39 so that many people can also find their dream in your effort and join youquotSeeing SuccessSo what can success look like Kanter notes several examples ranging from ethical and race issues to causedriven business and innovation quotOne of my favorite examples is the former mayor of New Orleans Mitch Landrieuquot she says quotHe removed four Confederate statues from the city that seemed to have always been there and seemed to be honoring heroesquotThe reality Kanter explains is that the statues weren39t always there and those people weren39t heroes The statues were placed by a group called the Cult of the Lost Cause to try to perpetuate racial inequitiesquotMitch had a different way of viewing the pastquot Kanter says quotHe was aiming toward a future as a city of culture a city that attracted tourists a city with a booming economy As long as that old version of the past was around he couldn39t do thatquotKanter also cites a nationwide drugstore as a great example of change within a businessCVS reframed its focus to promote health by eliminating tobacco sales hosting instore health workshops and introducing MinuteClinic As Kanter notes quotCVS39s new story opens up many possibilities for how to be not only profitable but also have high impact in the futurequotAnd then there39s Vanessa Kirsch who pioneered an entirely new sector when she founded Public AlliesquotOver 20 years ago Vanessa told me 39We have forprofit and notforprofit we need a new sector called newprofit39quot Kanter recalls quotMany thought 39Oh that39s silly39 and thought she39d be dismissed But Vanessa gathered other people met with them weekly for an entire year to discuss the idea before actually founding her organization amp8212 and it39s been incredibly successful since She did it with a venture capital model one that builds in partners from the beginningquotKanter39s LawKanter believes that quoteverybody should have a law named after them even if you name it yourselfquot Kanter39s Law is this Everything can look like a failure in the middlequotWe often begin things with enormous enthusiasm with a big goal and supporters When your campaign starts to be successful that invites the critics because the critics didn39t notice you beforequot she says quotNow that you39re visible they start attacking So how do you get through those things You have to be flexible and resilientquotThat39s something Professor Kanter has learned through a lifetime of driving social activismDon39t stop now Stay in the know on diversity inclusion and equality in advertising media and marketing with more from Advancing DiversityClick the social buttons to share this story with colleagues and friendsThe opinions expressed here are the author39s views and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet

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Rosabeth Moss Kanter on Purpose-Driven Leadership, Storytelling, and Social Impact

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Nathan Holman

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Rosabeth Moss Kanter on Purpose-Driven Leadership, Storytelling, and Social Impact

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