In the social age we are now in, there is a need and value in informal styles of leadership. Where does power come from in these informal spaces and how does it help us drive our purpose? What happens when we find our purpose? This talk explores these ideas.

1. The power of
purpose
@sathpal

2. A quick intro
With NatWest Group
• Engineering Practice Lead
• Co-Lead People, Skills & Culture workstream of
Engineering Transformation program
• Stack Overflow Product Owner & Community Lead
Beyond the day job
• Chair of BCS Agile SG
• Organiser of Future of Work Scotland
• Co-Founder of MakingCommunity podcast
• Conference Speaker, Mentor and Trainer
@sathpal

3. What are we
covering?

4. What are we covering today?
• Setting the scene
• Social leadership revisited
• What is power – an enquiry framework
• Where purpose fits in
• Personal reflections on purpose
• Closing thoughts
• Q&A
@sathpal

5. @sathpal

6. Social
leadership –
a recap

7. The
Social
Age
Changes in life
and work
Democratisation
and moderation
of communication
Social contract &
capital
The rise of the
Social Leader
Social learning Communities

8. The Social Leader
Characteristics Behaviours
High Social Capital Enhancing collaboration
Kindness Nurturing and developing communities
Fairness Fighting for fairness & equality
Humility Create spaces for social learning
Grace Sharing and storytelling
Reputation-based authority Develop other leaders
@sathpal

9. The NET
model –
What role does power play in
social leadership?
@sathpal

10. An exploration
of power

11. Let’s enquire! (Introducing a framework)
The mechanisms of
your power
The impact of your
power
The shape of your
power
The fragility of your
power
1. What can you achieve, alone?
2. What can you influence others to do?
3. What outcomes are beyond your control?
4. What limits your power?
1. What good can you do?
2. What harm can you prevent?
3. What do you enable?
4. How do you hear impact from your actions?
1. Where does your power sit?
2. Where are you powerless?
3. What can you demand?
4. What has been given to you?
1. What are you uncertain about?
2. How do you carry doubt?
3. What do you fear?
4. How do you experience consequences?
@sathpal

12. Where does
purpose fit in?

13. Some definitions
@sathpal

14. “ Purpose is the sensing of meaningfulness in the
present moment. It's energy is our fuel and when we
align on purpose, we are stronger ”
~ Thor Olafsson, CEO Strategic Leadership Group.
@sathpal

15. My perspective
on purpose

16. Our
purpose
gives us
power
“Passion and purpose scale –
always have, always will. Every
movement, every revolution is
proof of this fact”
~ Elon Musk
@sathpal

17. Closing
thoughts

18. A ‘C’ and two ‘A’s
We always have a Choice,
we can take Action and
hold ourselves Accountable
@sathpal

19. Have you
found yours?

20. Further reading
@sathpal

21. Keep in touch
BCS Agile Methods Linkedin profile @sathpal
Future of Work
Scotland meetup

22. Questions?