Step towards your purpose
Barbra Carlisle • April 16, 2025
Time is ticking, you want to do something with more impact
Tom left a business where he had excelled as a leader and influencer for over a decade, where opportunities were still knocking at his door. He didn’t get head hunted, he didn’t get disillusioned, he loved his team, he was stimulated daily.
So why?
To follow a passion that he had had for many years, to invent an e scooter that meets the needs of people with mobility challenges.
What do you need within you and around you to take that step into the unknown?
To leave a stable job to follow your purpose might sound like something reserved for mavericks or those with a financial cushion. But more and more leaders in the UK are doing just that—and not because it’s easy, but because they know they have more to offer the world.
The Evidence
According to research by the CIPD (2023), over 1 in 5 UK professionals are actively considering a career change, with “lack of meaning” cited as one of the top three drivers. And among senior leaders, this pull toward purpose is even stronger, especially post-pandemic.
The British Academy’s “Future of the Corporation” programme argues that business purpose beyond profit isn’t just good ethics—it’s good strategy.
Purpose-led companies in the UK are outperforming their peers in
- employee retention,
- customer loyalty, and
- innovation (PwC, 2021).
It may not make everyone stay but it is certainly going to help people feel aligned with their employer.
The Transition Tension
When I work with clients at this kind of crossroads, the question they often wrestle with isn’t just “What am I about to do! am I crazy? Will it work?”. They tend to be of the opinion – “If I don’t do it now I will never do it”. And it is here that I will always ask them about their gut feeling on the issue. Knowing your internal voice.
Inside each of us, there’s often a quiet negotiation happening. One part of you wants to hold on to what’s known—what’s safe (we call this your Guardian voice). Another part (perhaps the Nurturer voice) is whispering about what really matters to society and the people affected. And then there’s the bolder voice, the Pioneer, ready to look well into the future and strategize how to get there. The challenge is not choosing one over the other—but recognising and aligning these internal drivers/voices so you can lead from wholeness, not restlessness.
When I coach, I help leaders map these differences early. To identify what their key drivers are, and how their personality preferences can aid / limit them from doing something different to what they have done before.
Next step
Following your purpose takes structure, not just passion. It’s about aligning your internal compass, building external scaffolding, and learning how to lead yourself before you lead others. Thinking about your next chapter? Give me a call and we can talk about your next step together. book here https://zcal.co/barbracarlisle/30min
There is no getting away from it we need to be agile and lead through change - it is constant!
Newsflash - Leading is not Managing! Why the Distinction Matters For years, many professionals, myself included, assumed that leadership and management were one and the same. After all, both involve guiding people and achieving goals. But in today’s dynamic and complex business environment, understanding the difference between leadership and management is essential. At Glee Coaching, we help individuals and organisations harness the power of both disciplines to drive performance, engagement, and long-term success. What Is Leadership? Leadership is about vision, influence, and transformation. It’s the ability to inspire others, create a compelling future, and guide people toward shared goals even in the face of uncertainty. As John C. Maxwell famously said, “Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less.” Leaders focus on: Setting direction rather than controlling outcomes Inspiring trust rather than demanding compliance Fostering innovation rather than maintaining the status quo Research from Harvard Business Review highlights that the best leaders are those who can move beyond titles and focus on action engaging in behaviours that inspire, align, and mobilise others. These leaders are not just visionaries; they are catalysts for change. What Is Management? Management, on the other hand, is about structure, execution, and consistency. It ensures that systems run smoothly, resources are used efficiently, and objectives are met on time and within budget. Peter Drucker, the father of modern management, once said: “Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.” Managers excel at: Planning and organising Monitoring performance Solving problems and mitigating risks Gallup showed that managers are the single biggest factor in employee engagement, accounting for up to 70% of the variance in team engagement levels. This means that effective management isn’t just operational it is foundational to team morale and productivity. Leadership vs. Management: A Strategic Balance Rather than viewing leadership and management as opposing forces, I tend to think of them as complementary disciplines. The most effective professionals know when to lead and when to manage. A helpful rule of thumb I use is that Leaders should be 80% strategic and 20% tactical while Managers should be 80% tactical and 20% strategic. This balance is echoed in a 15-year study by HBR contributor James R. Bailey, who found that the most successful executives blend both leadership and management behaviours adapting fluidly to the needs of their teams and organisations. Issues that my coaching clients bring tend to be around the perceived need of leaders to sit in the transactional tactical doer space. Why You Need Both in Today’s Workplace In a world of hybrid teams, rapid innovation, and constant change, organisations need people who can: Lead with purpose and authenticity Build high-performing, collaborative teams Manage complexity with confidence and agility Gallup’s global engagement data shows that when managers are disengaged, team performance suffers dramatically. Conversely, when leaders are purpose-driven and aligned with their values, they inspire greater commitment and resilience across the organisation. If you're curious about how coaching can support this development, explore our What Is Coaching page . How Glee Coaching Can Help At Glee Coaching, we offer tailored leadership and management development programmes that help you: Discover your authentic leadership style Strengthen your management toolkit Navigate the transition from manager to leader (or vice versa) Build confidence, clarity, and capability Whether you're stepping into your first leadership role or refining your executive presence, we are here to support your journey. Call to Action Ready to explore your leadership potential or refine your management style? 👉 Visit our programmes to discover programmes designed for impact or call Barbra
