Clarity, Ethics, and Impact: The Core of Leadership

Welcome back to The Purpose and Profit Podcast! In this episode, Dr. Ty Wenglar takes a deep dive into the foundational pillars of purpose-driven leadership: Clarity, Ethics, and Long-Term Impact.

Discover why clarity of purpose is essential for effective leadership, how ethical integrity builds trust and drives loyalty, and why long-term thinking is crucial in a world often consumed by short-term wins. Featuring real-world examples from leaders like Howard Schultz and companies like Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever, this episode provides actionable insights to align your leadership with values that inspire and sustain success.

Dr. Wenglar also shares practical strategies, including how to conduct a "purpose audit," develop a leadership code of ethics, and set long-term goals that reflect your mission.

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Join us next time as we explore aligning purpose with strategy—ensuring every action reflects your mission. Stay focused, ethical, and purpose-driven!

Transcript

 "Clarity, Ethics, and Impact: The Core of Leadership"

Welcome back to the Purpose and Profit Podcast! I’m Dr. Ty Wenglar, your host, and I’m thrilled to have you with us today as we dive deeper into the transformative power of purpose-driven leadership.

In our last episode, we explored the purpose revolution—why aligning leadership with purpose isn’t just important, but essential in today’s world. We talked about how purpose provides a North Star for organizations, fostering resilience, engagement, and success.

Today, we’re going to take a closer look at the foundations of purpose-driven leadership: Clarity, Ethics, and Long-Term Impact. These aren’t just buzzwords—they are the pillars that define effective, meaningful leadership.

Let me ask you: What happens when a leader, or more impactful, an organization, lacks clarity of purpose? How often do leaders prioritize short-term wins over lasting impact? And what’s the cost of compromising ethics in pursuit of those short term goals? If any of those questions resonate with you, this episode is for you.

Let’s start with clarity.

Clarity of purpose is the foundation of effective leadership. It’s knowing why your organization exists—what drives it beyond profits or growth—and aligning every action with that purpose. Without clarity, leadership becomes reactive, scattered, and ineffective.

Before we dive into the example, I want to take a moment to address an important point as we move forward. Throughout this podcast, I’ll be referencing a variety of organizations to illustrate key concepts. Some of these companies may hold messaging or political positions that can be polarizing. While I may not personally align with all aspects of their stances, I believe they have the right to express them, and it doesn’t diminish the value of the lessons we can draw from their actions.

I also believe that we can learn something valuable from nearly everyone—even from those whose views differ greatly from our own. My goal here isn’t to focus on politics or controversy but to highlight insights that can inspire purposeful leadership. I encourage you to set aside any preconceived notions and focus on the broader leadership lessons being shared.

So, now back to that example, Take the story of Howard Schultz, the former CEO of Starbucks. When he returned to the company after a challenging period, he didn’t just focus on fixing numbers. Instead, he reminded the organization of its mission: to inspire and nurture the human spirit—one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time.

This clarity of purpose wasn’t just a nice statement. It drove every decision Starbucks made—from how they sourced coffee beans to how they treated employees. And it reignited the company’s culture, which ultimately led to a turnaround in its performance.

Clarity isn’t just for CEOs—it’s for everyone. When leaders communicate their organization’s purpose clearly, employees feel a sense of direction and meaning. Customers see authenticity and values they can trust. And decision-making becomes consistent and aligned.

At Lucentra, we’ve worked with leaders who’ve struggled with clarity. Sometimes the mission statement is there, but it’s buried under day-to-day tasks and decisions. One of the first things we help them do is revisit and redefine their purpose, ensuring it resonates with their goals, employees, and stakeholders.  And then, that it is clearly messaged and understood at all levels of the organization.

So here’s a question for you: Is your organization’s purpose clear? And are your daily actions aligned with it?  Do your employees and other stakeholder know and see you living it?

Next, let’s talk about ethics and integrity.

Ethical leadership is the glue that holds an organization together. It’s about acting with integrity, being transparent, and holding yourself accountable. Ethics builds trust—without it, even the clearest purpose will fall apart.

Let’s look at a real-world example: Ben & Jerry’s. This company is known not just for its ice cream, but for its commitment to social justice and ethical sourcing. Whether it’s campaigning for racial equity or ensuring fair trade practices, Ben & Jerry’s leads with its values.

This level of integrity builds trust with employees, customers, and communities. And that trust translates into loyalty, advocacy, and long-term success.

But here’s the flip side: when ethics are compromised, the damage can be catastrophic. We’ve all seen companies brought down by scandals—whether it’s data breaches, workplace discrimination, or financial fraud. The common thread? A failure to prioritize ethical behavior.

As leaders, we set the tone. Our teams will follow our example. I’ve often used the expression “Does our rhetoric match our reality?” This ties into the saying by NFL coach Tom Landry: “You get what you demand. You encourage what you tolerate.” If we tolerate unethical behavior, we send a message that it’s acceptable.

At Lucentra, we help organizations create frameworks for ethical decision-making. This includes clear codes of conduct, accountability structures, and a leadership culture that rewards integrity.

So, ask yourself: Are your actions and decisions aligned with your values? And what ethical standards are you modeling for your team?

Finally, let’s talk about long-term impact.

In a world that often prioritizes short-term results—quarterly earnings, immediate growth—it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. But the best leaders think beyond the next milestone. They focus on sustainable success that creates value for years to come.

Take Unilever as an example. Their “Sustainable Living Plan” isn’t just about profits—it’s about halving their environmental footprint while improving global health and livelihoods. By focusing on long-term impact, they’re not only making a difference in the world—they’re also positioning themselves as a trusted, forward-thinking brand.

Why does this matter? Because short-term thinking can lead to burnout, disengagement, and decisions that harm your organization’s reputation. Long-term thinking, on the other hand, fosters innovation, resilience, and loyalty.

So, how do you lead with long-term impact in mind? Start by aligning your strategic goals with your purpose. Ask yourself:

• How does this decision impact my team, my customers, and my community in the long run?
• Am I investing in sustainability, innovation, and relationships—or just chasing quick wins?

At Lucentra, we encourage leaders to engage their stakeholders—employees, customers, and even investors—in shaping their long-term goals. It’s not just about doing what’s right—it’s about creating a future everyone believes in.

So, how do you apply these principles to your leadership? Here are three reflection questions to guide you:

1. Clarity: Is your organization’s purpose clear, and are you communicating it consistently?
2. Ethics: Are your actions aligned with your values? What behavior are you modeling for your team?
3. Long-Term Impact: Are you making decisions that prioritize sustainable, long-term value over short-term gains?

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, start small. Here are some quick wins:

• Conduct a “purpose audit” of your organization. Are your goals, culture, and processes aligned with your mission?  Are they understood across the company?
• Create a leadership code of ethics to guide decision-making.
• Establish one long-term goal that aligns with your purpose, and share it with your team.

Clarity, ethics, and long-term thinking are not just ideals—they are the foundation of leadership that inspires and sustains. They separate great leaders from good ones.

So, here’s my challenge to you this week: Take one step toward aligning your leadership with these principles. Maybe it’s refining your mission. Maybe it’s having a conversation with your team about ethics. Or maybe it’s setting a long-term goal that reflects your purpose.

If today’s message resonated with you and you’re ready to take the next step toward aligning purpose with profit in your leadership journey, we’d love to help. Visit www.lucentraprofitadvisors.com to book a free consultation and explore how we can guide you toward greater clarity and impact.

Or, download my free book, The Profit Optimization Handbook, for actionable insights and strategies to transform your leadership and organization. It’s our gift to you as you start this journey.  Go to www.lucentraprofitadviosors.com/free-book.

Purpose-driven leadership begins with a single step—take yours today at [YourWebsite.com] And don’t forget to share your reflections with us! Connect with us on [social media/email]. We’d love to hear how you’re aligning your leadership with purpose.

In our next episode, we’ll explore how to align purpose with strategy. How do you ensure that every action and decision reflects your mission? We’ll break it down, step by step.

Thank you for joining me today on The Purpose and Profit Podcast. Until next time, stay focused, stay ethical, and stay purpose-driven.