Tim Nichol
Pro-Vice Chancellor (Faculty of Busines and Law) at Liverpool John Moores University
As part of our commitment to supporting the industry, we ran a pilot Purpose Programme which was a big hit and is now part of our membership benefits package, so we are talking to those people who took part about how it was for them.
Q Why did you sign up to the programme?
A Organisations are increasingly asked to discuss their’ Purpose’ in the context of what they do and why they do it. I believe the same questions apply to people within organisations. The programme provided me with an opportunity to reflect on my ‘purpose’ as an individual.
Q Was it what you expected?
A I expected the programme to take me through a series of reflective processes which allowed me to make sense of my thoughts, values and opinions in the context of my ‘purpose’. I was really curious. I have been on a number of management training programmes which analyse personality preferences but have never consider how this frames my individual ‘purpose’ . The programme met my expectations.
Q What did you get out of the programme?
A A programme that asks you to hold up a mirror will be both challenging and illuminating. This was the case. The programme was structured to take you through a series of self-reflective stages that provoked thoughts and exploration. The starting point was an examination of values. This was a great way to begin the programme and was very informative. The programme allowed me to make sense of a number of matters and clarify my thinking. The sense making was important as I came to understand why I both thought and acted in specific ways. Ultimately, the programme developed self –confidence in stating my purpose and the values driving that purpose.
Q What would you say to someone considering signing up to the programme?
A It is an extremely rewarding process but you need to ensure you have the space to work through the exercises. The exercises are not technical. Rather, they require you to find time to think about yourself in the context of a series of questions and then write statements or create images to summarise your thoughts. You are carefully guided through the process but will only get the most out of the programme if you can find that quiet time. I would stress again that this can be hugely rewarding.
