A few weeks ago, I posed this question on LinkedIn: Are you crystal clear on the vision (where you’re heading) and mission (what needs to be achieved to get there) of your organisation?

A staggering 63% of respondents said “No”!

 

This should ring alarm bells for organisations. When employees feel disconnected or unclear about their mission and vision, they become disengaged. Motivation dwindles, and fulfilment levels plummet.

If this resonates with you, it might be time to bring clarity to your situation—and explore whether a Career Pivot® is on the horizon. Start today by benchmarking your career using the Career Accelerator Scorecard to receive a free personalised insights report.

The Three Dots

If you’ve been wondering “What’s next?” in your career, this is the section you’ve been waiting for. There are three key components—or “dots”—to focus on: purpose, mission, and vision.

Think of these dots as stars in the night sky. Like constellations, connecting your purpose, mission, and vision gives you clarity to navigate your career and make pivotal decisions.

 

Purpose, Mission, and Vision: An Overview

A pivot, after all, is a turning point upon which something depends—and that “something” is you. These dots also form a navigational system to keep you on track in the long term. They’re like the Google Maps of your career.

Purpose

To uncover your purpose, look back at your life. Your purpose often stems from past experiences, both positive and negative, and shapes what drives you.

Sometimes, life-changing events—such as having a baby, losing a loved one, or surviving an accident—trigger a shift towards your purpose. For others, it’s about discovering recurring themes from their life story.

Practical exercise: Create a timeline of your life’s highs and lows. What lessons emerge? How do they connect to your career? For example, one of my life themes is to motivate and inspire, which aligns with my natural strengths.

The result? You’ll answer the critical question: What drives me to get out of bed each morning and show up for work?

Mission

Your mission exists in the present and represents what you’re currently up to in the world. It’s where you find personal power, as you can choose how to express your talents and values.

If you’re working now, your mission is your current role—whether you enjoy it or not. Ideally, your mission should allow for self-expression through both love and play.

Your personal mission should overlap with your organisation’s mission. If there’s little or no overlap, this could be a sign it’s time for a Career Pivot®.

💡 Tip: Mission isn’t limited to work. Volunteer roles can also be a powerful outlet for mission alignment. Back in 2019, I coordinated the UK and Ireland pod for 500 Women Scientists, whose mission is to make science more inclusive and accessible.

Case Study – Dr Jane Scanlon – finding joy after a shock redundancy
Dr Jane Scanlon, a senior scientist, discovered her core value of collaboration through coaching. When redundancy struck after joining a start-up, she relied on her clarity to find a fulfilling role at Sentinel Oncology while also pursuing meaningful volunteer work. Her resilience and alignment with her values transformed her career journey.

Vision

Vision is about the future. It’s what you most want to change in the world.

One framework I love is the 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development (visit UN Goals). Choose:

• One goal for your head: Which aligns with your skills and experience?

• One goal for your heart: Which resonates with your passions?

At the intersection of these goals lies your vision, guiding you to identify organisations or sectors aligned with your values. Start by creating a “gold list” of organisations that match your vision.

Note: Your vision doesn’t have to be unique. It’s better if it isn’t, as it connects you to like-minded organisations and collaborators. Even as an entrepreneur, I seek partnerships aligned with my vision—no one succeeds in isolation.

Reflect

Ask yourself:

1. Is my mission (what I’m doing) aligned with my career values and natural talents?

1. Is the vision of my organisation aligned with my personal vision?

If you answered no, it’s time to explore a Career Pivot® and create a strategy for deeper fulfilment.

 

Ready to Map Your Purpose–Mission–Vision?

Take these three steps to design your intentional career:

📖 Benchmark your career for free: Take the Career Accelerator Scorecard to receive a personalised report. https://scorecard.intentional-careers.com/strategy

💻 Join the Intentional Careers™ Workshop: Register for free (£295 value). Multiple dates and times are available. https://intentional-careers.com/workshop/

🗣️ Explore the Career Design Mastermind: Book a call to see if it’s right for you—only 4 places left for January 2025. https://intentional-careers.com/cdmm/

Remember, I’m just an email away.

Keep opening up,
Hannah

 

P.S. Do you have a chronic health condition affecting your energy and confidence, like endometriosis or ME? Listen to Dr Kat Fish’s story about creating an Intentional Career™ by reclaiming energy from overexpressed Perfectionist, Pleaser, and Pusher parts.
🎙️ iTunes │ 🎙️ Spotify