The past decade has birthed a good deal of talk about being “purpose driven” in business – and in life. My guest on this episode, Diana Rhoten is one of the people I look to for an understanding of what that really means. Her work with IDEO – a global design company that creates positive impact through design – has positioned her at the crosshairs of that target, and she’s instrumental in making it happen for organizations worldwide. In this conversation, the two of us talk about why the idea of purpose driven business is on the rise, the dynamics and impetus for organizational change, and the difference between designing your life and planning your life.
Is your organization concerned about amplifying your talents or only what you can do for it?
Diana’s career path has not been linear by any stretch. In her mind, it’s been more like a lattice than a ladder. By that, she means she’s done a number of things that appear to be disparate but that have come together in a beautiful synergy that has uniquely equipped her for the role she plays now. And those experiences have been centered around her unique talents and perspectives. Stemming from that, she’s discovered that for her, the focus has to be on amplifying her innate talents rather than producing quantifiable results. She’s learned that working with organizations that understand the difference between those two makes all the difference for her. Find out more about how she views this issue on this episode.
A well-designed corporation can generate social value and economic value together.
When you think about a business being purpose driven you might assume that goal will require sacrifices when it comes to the profit and loss statement. But Diana doesn’t believe it has to be that way. It’s all about how the company or organization is designed. Will its leadership and infrastructure support the purpose-based goals it is striving to attain in a way that remains profitable, or are there things that need to change in order for that to happen? Diana’s insight about this issue is valuable, so don’t miss it.
Organizational change happens through movements within the company.
In our conversation, Diana and I spent a good deal of time talking about the way organizational change happens. It’s a necessary topic to discuss when considering the issue of what it takes to truly be a purpose driven business. Diana says organizational change doesn’t happen without the right kind of leadership, but even then it has to begin within the DNA of the company, the people. She calls it an “internal movement” that rises up from the grassroots, so to speak. Good leaders encourage it and till the soil for it to grow, but the people on the team make it happen. You’ll enjoy her perspective and you’ll gain a valuable amount of insight, so do what you can to listen.
Are you planning your life or are you designing it?
There are lots of resources out these days that encourage you to plan your life. I’m a coach so I’m totally into being intentional about where you’re headed. But in our conversation, Diana points out that planning your life and designing your life are two different things. Designing your life is not about planning, it’s about a reframe. You’ve got to learn not to say, “Only if” when it comes to your future. You need to make it less about the steps and more about the state you want to live in. It doesn’t mean you don’t have a plan for your life, it just means you don’t focus on the plan, you focus on the WHY behind it.
Episode Highlights
- 0:52 – My guest, Diana Rhoten
- 2:09 – How Diana struggled to define who she wanted to be
- 6:52 – The misconceptions Diana had about the realities of a career path for herself
- 12:51 – Diana sees her career path as a lattice, not a ladder. Here’s why
- 18:12 – Trash talk: stories from Diana’s childhood that demonstrate her purpose
- 22:02 – Why the purpose-driven business is on the rise
- 33:22 – The dynamics behind corporate change and how change starts with individuals
- 37:15 – The shifting roles of government and business and how brands can create new experiences to offer broader inspiration.
- 44:33 – What IS a human scale action?
- 47:31 – Why organizational design is a discipline
- 50:23 – Wy it’s important to design your life rather than plan your life
Resources Mentioned
- IDEO
- Diana on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook
- Seventh Generation
- TED talk by Derek Sivers: How to Start a Movement
- Charlie Munger
1. Favorite book for women?
- Behind The Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo
2. Favorite self-care hack?
- Hanging out with her Great Dane “Fife”: there’s no way for life to be bad when Fife is around
3. Best piece of advice and who gave it to you?
- Diana’s grandmother told her, “Regrets are for people who are old and bitter.”
4. One piece of advice you’d give your 5 years younger self?
- Don’t stress.” Work-life balance is important but alignment is way more important.
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