Power of Purpose

Learn to work and lead with purpose
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When an individual or organization focuses on making meaningful change in the world, it stokes passion, inspires action, and injects powerful significance into their work. A clear purpose guides people through change and motivates them to lead from wherever they are. Whether you want to find purpose for yourself or your organization, this class will help you articulate and activate your purpose and bring more meaning to your every day.

Course Outcomes
  • Define your personal or professional purpose—what you’re working towards, beyond making a profit.
  • Lead, motivate, and inspire others by rallying around a clear purpose.
  • Craft a lasting purpose statement.
  • Find true meaning in your work.
Course Themes
Organizational Change Influence Motivation
Format Online Self-Paced Course
Start Date Start Anytime*
Quantity
Time 8-10 Hours
Price
$199
$199
Download Syllabus

*90-day access from date of purchase.

What You'll Learn

Introduction

Reflect on your personal purpose and discover three professional purpose lenses.
3 Video Lessons
  • The Power of Purpose—Getting to a more meaningful why
  • The Power of Purpose—The reason to exist beyond profit
  • Leading Through Purpose—The story of Cadillac Fairview
1 Activity

  • Finding Your Purpose—Reflect on your purpose and impact you want to have on people’s lives

Lesson 1: See it

Map out moments of pride and passion in your work to begin zeroing in on your purpose.
1 Video Lesson
  • See It—Spotting purpose in your work
1 Assignment

  • See It—When finding your purpose, begin by looking at the past. Don't merely project into the future or imagine how it might show up. Where has it shown up already?

Lesson 2: Name it

Write a purpose statement that taps into identity and leads to behavioral change.
3 Video Lessons
  • The Chocolate Cake Study—What really matters more than batter
  • Purpose Statement Game—(Sadly) no cash prizes
  • Name It—The poetry in purpose
1 Assignment

  • Name It—Generate the inspiration that will bring your purpose statement from the previous activity to life.

Lesson 3: Do it

Discover ways to activate purpose every day at the team and organizational levels.
2 Video Lessons
  • Do It—Living your purpose
  • More from Cadillac Fairview—Quick wins and bold moves
1 Assignment

  • Do It—Create a plan to bring your purpose to life through action.

Conclusion

How might you bring more meaning to your work and systems around you?
1 Video Lesson
  • Final Thoughts—A joyful struggle
1 Assignment

  • Final Reflection—Reflect on your experience and think about how you might bring more meaning to your work and the systems around you.

Meet Your Instructors

Joe Brown

Portfolio Director at IDEO

Prior to IDEO, Joe taught courses in Marketing and Organizational Behavior at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he also earned his MBA. Before that, he edited textbooks for the SAT, moonlighted as an interaction designer, and sold art in several New York galleries.

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Joe Brown

Portfolio Director at IDEO

Joe leads work centered on helping companies organize to build their future—creating the cultures, communities, structures, and systems they need to succeed. That means Joe is often tangled up in building new innovation labs, rethinking product development, and scaling new capabilities. Joe has also helped several dozen companies become purpose driven—not just creating purpose statements, but bringing purpose to life at every level of the company.

Prior to IDEO, Joe taught courses in Marketing and Organizational Behavior at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he also earned his MBA. Before that, he edited textbooks for the SAT, moonlighted as an interaction designer, and sold art in several New York galleries.

Deepen Your Learning

Downloadable Workbook

Receive a workbook with reflection questions, instructions for activities, and supplemental resources from the course.

Practical Activities

Learn activities and mindsets you can build into your work and share with your team to bring more meaning to your every day and connect with your purpose.

Certificate of Completion

After completing the course, receive a certificate of completion.
Learn more about the IDEO U Learning Experience
Deepen Your Learning

Loved by Learners Across the Globe

Hirdesh Kumar Gupta
Hirdesh Sr. Manager Customer Success VMWare
Kate Hogan
Kate VP Learning & Development Hagerty Insurance
Rachel Horak
Rachel Director of Business & Finance Indian Creek School
Brooke Moore
Brooke District Principal Delta School District
Power of Purpose
Self-Paced Course

“I am convinced that this is one course which everyone in my organization should take. This class taught me how defining a purpose helps everyone to connect to the final outcome and impact it has on everyday life in the organization, in the team, and at a micro-level on an individual.”

Hirdesh Pune, Maharashtra, India
Power of Purpose
Self-Paced Course

“Content was very useful and organized in a way that kept me engaged. Loved the variety of video, reading and activities. I also appreciated the link to the studies so I could dig in further on some topics.”

Kate Cedar, MI
Power of Purpose
Self-Paced Course

“By acknowledging a purpose for my work, I am motivated and connected to every email, assignment, and project. This course has allowed me to see the bigger picture of my work. I would encourage everyone and anyone to take this course to align their purpose with their passions!”

Rachel Crownsville, MD
Power of Purpose
Self-Paced Course

“I just love how fresh your courses feel and sound. Your design sense comes through and helps me see information or ideas I've come across before in new ways. I also love that you always give me new exercises or ideas that are simple and powerful.”

Brooke North Vancouver, BC, Canada

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Enroll As a Team

The practice and application of design thinking, innovation, and creativity is highly collaborative and team based—which is why we believe that learning is better together. Take a course as a team and develop new skills and mindsets, have deeper discussion during course kickoff and debrief sessions, and build a shared understanding.

How to Enroll as a Team