There are large and small stumbling blocks on your path to leading a fast and growing staffing or recruitment firm. Those things that keep you up at night are often immediately tangible in terms of balance sheets, ROI, and competitive performance.
Beyond the measurable statistics, there is a key ingredient you may be overlooking:
- Be better at what you do.
- Be a better leader.
- Help your firm be a fast and successful growth machine.
And for staffing and recruiting firms scaling or navigating change, purpose can be the strategic edge that sets you apart
Why Purpose Matters in Talent Services
When defining your true business purpose, it can’t be just another buzzword or brand statement. It’s about conviction, clarity, and commitment. Think of a successful staffing firm you know. Their success isn’t pure luck.
Their efficiency and drive are guided by a clear purpose. When your goals are rooted in creating real value and doing the right thing, decisions come easier, alignment happens faster, and growth becomes a byproduct.Here’s what you should think of when defining your business purpose.
A business purpose must be crafted carefully.
Consider these 6 components:
- Make it bold. You’re not here to play small. Maybe it’s reshaping how flexible work is delivered, or becoming the most trusted partner in your niche.
- It’s your why, not just your what.Who do you serve and why does it matter? Purpose gets to the heart of your mission
- It’s bigger than money. The most inspiring firms are driven by impact—improving lives, not just increasing margins.
- It rights a wrong. A purpose fixes an injustice. Is there a powerful way you can improve the communities around you or support a mission that helps people nationwide or globally?
- A lifelong commitment is not a goal. When the only target is a number, it’s easy to justify shortcuts. But purpose keeps your decisions anchored, even when challenges arise.
- A purpose gives meaning to people’s lives. Look passed what you do and recognize what’s possible because you do it better than anyone else.
Alignment of Needs
To investigate point 6 a bit deeper, realize that purpose is built upon needs; it’s a human condition. Look to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs:
First, people need food, clothing, and shelter. Once those needs are met, people want to belong to something bigger than themselves. Your purpose can help meet that need – it can become a purpose of their own. After finding that purpose, people want to feel great about what they do and live with self-esteem. Finally, people want to achieve all they can and fulfill their talents and potential. How does your staffing or recruitment firm’s purpose create an affinity with the purpose of your employees?
Not a Mission Statement
Your Purpose is not your Mission Statement. It should be more personal and passionate. To define your purpose:
- Clear and Memorable: Something your team can rally around and repeat with confidence.
- Emotionally Resonant: It should move people, not just inform them.
- Rooted in Conviction: It reflects what you deeply believe, not just what sounds good.
- A Shared Standard: Bring in people who align with it, and be willing to part ways when values don’t match.
- Lived and Celebrated Daily: Weave it into your rituals, communications, and client conversations.
In closing, to find your company’s authentic purpose, consider your non-negotiable core values and what kind of legacy you want to leave behind. Ask yourself if your answers transcend revenue. Will your purpose resonate throughout the organization? Are there emotions behind your statement? When you start feeling it and not thinking about it, that’s when you’re truly tapping into your purpose.
Source: Jason Jennings, Authority on Leadership, Growth, and Innovation, presented during SIA 2018’s Keynote, “The Need for Speed – How to Get Everything Done Faster.”
