The Third P: Reconnecting With Purpose in Your Career

So far, we have explored the first two Ps: People and Problems. We looked at how the right people and environments bring out your best, while the wrong ones can quietly drain even the strongest leaders. We also unpacked the types of problems that energise you, where your real value sits, and the challenges you are naturally built to solve. Now we come to the third P: Purpose.

Purpose is what gives meaning to everything else. You can work with great people and solve important problems, but if the work is not aligned with your deeper sense of purpose, disconnection eventually sets in. Burnout, frustration, or a feeling of flatness often follow. This stage invites you to slow down and ask the bigger questions about why your work matters to you.

It is a chance to reflect on the impact you want to have on people, culture, and outcomes. To look for the common thread that runs through your proudest career moments. To recognise when you felt most aligned, most energised, and most yourself at work. And just as importantly, to identify the kinds of work or environments you no longer want to repeat.

If you are currently unemployed, this reflection helps rebuild confidence and meaning after a difficult transition. If you are actively searching, it acts as a filter, helping you avoid roles that look impressive on paper but feel hollow in reality. And if you are passively curious, it often explains the quiet sense that something more aligned is calling you forward.

At this stage of your career, purpose is not a luxury. It is your anchor and your edge. When you reconnect with why the work matters, you stop chasing roles and start choosing opportunities that reflect who you truly are and who you are becoming next.