Purpose at Work

This book is a must-read for anyone navigating the complexities of today’s dynamic environment. It masterfully combines scholarly research, practical frameworks, and real-world cases to provide a roadmap for unlocking organizational potential through purpose. With clarity, confidence, and commitment as its pillars, it equips readers with actionable strategies to foster innovation, align teams, and build cultures of resilience and growth. A transformative guide for anyone committed to making purpose a driver of meaningful and lasting change.

—Professor Robert E. Quinn, PhD, University of Michigan, Ross School of Business and best-selling author of Deep Change and The Economics of Higher Purpose

While there are many other books on the role of purpose, I know of none that comprehensively link individual purpose to organizational purpose in such a complete way. I am also unaware of any that make the clear connection to innovation. This book is simply an outstanding and deep review and guide on driving innovation —with a clear and deeply embedded purpose. Very well done!

—Bracken Darell, CEO VF Corporation (Timberland, The North Face, Vans, Dickies and Smartwool), former CEO, Logitech (2013 – 2023)

Purpose at Work by Patty Lindstrom, PhD, is a must-read for leaders seeking to understand and harness the unifying power of purpose. With over 30 years of military experience, I’ve seen firsthand how purpose provides the meaning, direction, and motivation that drive people to accomplish great missions. Dr. Lindstrom’s well-structured research, engaging narrative, and instructive examples drawn from her extraordinary career distill the essence of purpose into a practical guide for navigating the complexities of leadership and innovation. I highly recommend this insightful book to leaders at all levels—from emerging professionals to C-suite executives.

—William J. Walker, Major General, U.S. Army (Retired), 38th Sergeant at Arms, U.S. House of Representatives, 117th Congress

In today’s moment of rapid technological advancements, we must ground our work in purpose to shape the future we want. With her research, Dr. Patty Lindstrom has thoughtfully and thoroughly detailed why, showcasing the power of purpose to drive positive change and transformation. At Siemens, we’ve been guided by purpose for more than 175 years and counting. Purpose at Work reaffirms what’s possible when you put purpose at the heart of everything you do, and its lessons are valuable to leaders everywhere.

—Barbara Humpton, President and CEO, Siemens USA

Purpose at Work offers practical examples of how leaders build purpose-driven teams that thrive in environments of innovation. The book illustrates how clearly defining and communicating purpose helps individuals connect with the organization’s mission, creating meaningful work that fuels both creativity and productivity. Patty has authored each chapter with Lessons and Actions tables and insightful questions—valuable tools for assessing your current situation and identifying actionable strategies to enhance your leadership. I highly recommend Purpose at Work to any leader striving to inspire their team and drive lasting impact.

—Dr. Brett Hinds, Chief Engineer – Electrified Powertrain Systems, Ford Motor Company (Retired), Director of Powertrain at ZOOX

Purpose at Work is a must-read for founders of purpose-driven startups and startup hub leaders. Patty Lindstrom demonstrates how deeply activated purpose fuels resilience, accelerates innovation, and creates lasting impact. This book offers practical frameworks, like the 3C Componential Model, to transform purpose into a strategic advantage. It’s especially relevant for founders navigating growth and CEOs building entrepreneurial ecosystems. An inspiring guide for those committed to innovation and creating a meaningful legacy.

—Catherine Jones, CEO, Creative HQ, World-leading Innovation Hub, wholly-owned subsidiary of Wellington, New Zealand

Patty Lindstrom has produced an engaging and inspiring book centered on purpose and innovation. Based on her extensive leadership experience and original research, Dr. Lindstrom demonstrates how a clear and compelling purpose fosters and enhances innovation and change in organizations. Three pillars explain the power of purpose—that is, purpose fosters clarity and direction, confidence and connection, and commitment and endurance. Through persuasive illustrations and empirical evidence, this book offers leaders valuable insights to foster innovation and positive change.

—Kim Cameron, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Management & Organizations, Ross School of Business and Professor Emeritus of Higher Education, University of Michigan and best-selling author of Positive Leadership: Strategies for Extraordinary Performance

Innovation can take you anywhere, but purpose ensures you move in the right direction as you build the organization of the future. Dr. Lindstrom’s book and research provide all the essential elements for that journey—even for a public water utility like Aarhus Vand. Patty’s insights and strategies are invaluable for any organization committed to driving innovation, meaningful impact and lasting change.

Claus Homann, CSO – Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer, Aarhus Vand, a leading Danish water utility in Aarhus, Denmark

The eternal quest for the Holy Grail is a metaphor of our search for meaning. We want it, crave it, but often plod through life and work without ample consideration of “why.” This book is a marvelous and exciting exploration of how to find, connect, or reaffirm the meaning in what we do and how it can be a driver for innovation.

—Richard E. Boyatzis, PhD, Distinguished Professor, Case Western Reserve University, Best-selling author of Primal Leadership, Resonant Leadership, Helping People Change, Becoming a Resonant Leader and the new The Science of Change

Patty Lindstrom offers a deep, practical understanding of how organizing for purpose unlocks an organization’s capacity for sustained innovation. Drawing from her deep industry experience and research on top innovative companies, Dr. Lindstrom demonstrates how purpose provides clarity, confidence, connection, and commitment—key elements for fostering innovative cultures. With data-driven insights, real-world examples, and actionable leadership strategies, this book is a must-read for leaders and theorists looking to harness the power of purpose to drive innovation. A compelling and insightful guide to building organizational resilience and growth.

— Michael Manning, Ph.D., Professor, Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, CA, Director and Professor, Global Leadership, Strategy & Change, Benedictine University, Center for Values-Driven

Dr. Lindstrom creates a clear case for how articulating a clear, mission-centered vision empower purposeful action and creates an environment in which flexibility and adaptation inspire innovation. Combining aspirational thinking with concrete case studies derived from rigorous research and lived organizational experience, Dr. Lindstrom’s work provides critical insight for leaders of teams, large and small and a roadmap for organizations of all types seeking to navigate the rapidly evolving global landscape.

—Joseph J. Foy, Ph.D. President, Benedictine University

This book is a must read for any leader who is seeking to create a high commitment, high performance organization. For the past forty years I have been enabling truth to speak to power about what stands in the way of their organization’s success. “We have an unclear and uncompelling direction” is reported in all organizations in many different industries. Leaders below the top ask for a clear and compelling purpose because they need it to make decisions in the increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous competitive market in which they are asked to succeed. This book provides them with invaluable and practical advice in how to do this and why it is important

—Michael Beer, Professor Emeritus, Harvard Business School, Co-Founder, Higher Ambition Leadership, Co-Founder, Truepoint Partner

Patty Lindstrom is a visionary leader, entrepreneur, and scholar whose work spans over 30 years at the intersection of business, innovation, and purpose-driven leadership. She is the founder of Creative Logic, Inc., Living the Brand® Academy, and PurposeGlobal.org and holds a PhD in Values-Based Leadership from Benedictine University.