The Purpose Gap: Helping Leaders and Teams Connect to Their Why

Employees with a strong sense of purpose are 5.6 times more likely to be engaged at work—yet only 18% of workers say their job has a purpose they believe in. In the 11 Ten Leadership’s State of Leadership Report, leaders consistently reported feeling more connected to their organization’s purpose than their teams. That gap isn’t just a statistic; it’s a leadership challenge.

In this episode, Rob Shields and David Spickard explore why purpose has become one of the most important conversations in leadership today. From the impact of COVID and remote work to the rise of AI and shifting generational expectations, they discuss why people are increasingly asking deeper questions about meaning, work, and contribution.

They also unpack why many leaders struggle to articulate their own personal why, how purpose differs from success, and what leaders can do to help their teams move beyond simply knowing the mission statement to truly owning the mission. David closes with practical exercises leaders can use to reconnect with their purpose — and create cultures where people show up knowing exactly how their work contributes to th

TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Purpose and engagement: the leadership challenge

00:01 – The 5.6x engagement statistic and the purpose gap

00:03 – Why purpose gets lost in organizations

00:04 – Why purpose matters more than ever in today’s workplace

00:07 – Work, faith, and human flourishing

00:09 – AI, efficiency, and the deeper question leaders must answer

00:10 – Why leaders often lose sight of their own why

00:13 – Purpose versus success: understanding the difference

00:17 – Signs your team has truly embraced the mission