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How to find your purpose

Welcome to “The McKinsey Publishing Guide to managing yourself and others.” In this first email, we’ll explore the importance of purpose. Fostering a strong sense of purpose benefits individuals and companies alike, and it can enable greater well being, resilience, and engagement. Read on to get clear about your “why.”

Amid alarming headlines about war, the economy, climate, and other crises, it’s not always easy to find purpose in every aspect of life—let alone work. But employees expect their jobs to be a significant source of purpose: Nearly two-thirds of US-based employees said in a McKinsey survey that COVID-19 caused them to reflect on their purpose in life, and nearly half said they are reconsidering the kind of work they do.

People with a strong sense of purpose tend to be more resilient and recover better from crises—but individual purpose benefits organizations, too. “Purpose attracts a network that’s focused on the same goals,” says McKinsey senior partner Acha Leke. Do you know your life’s purpose? Are you living it? Reflect on what purpose means to you, your organization, and your team with these five steps.