How do leaders construct their purpose?

Abstract

This article examines the underlying conditions of higher-order purpose leadership through an interview-based qualitative analysis of twelve entrepreneurs, whose commercial organisations are working to alleviate poverty in developing nations. MacIntyre (1981) argued that essential to telos-guided leadership is the development of virtues, practices and goods. This article finds that the salient virtues of higher-order purposeful leadership are humility, gratitude and justice, which involve the subjugation of the entrepreneurs self to the needs of others. Pertinent practices are identified as clarity of direction and more equitable resource allocation, which emerged from leaders expanded sense of connectedness. Goods produced involve significant systemic change and mutual transcendence, guided by a deep ecological awareness that goes beyond duality and short- term goals. This article highlights the need to include a concern for others into our understanding of leadership.