Stop Trying to Be the Hero

In every great story, there is a Hero... Someone who wants something but is facing a mountain of obstacles.

Most corporate cultures make the fundamental mistake of trying to position the company or the leader as the hero. They broadcast their history, their trophies, and their "why." But, when you try to be the hero, you’re actually competing with your team and your customers.

To fix this, I look to the StoryBrand Framework created by Donald Miller. If you haven't read his book, Building a StoryBrand, I recommend it. It’s a life saver for those trying to clarify their message.

At On Purpose Adventures, we’ve realized that if leaders want to build an organizational culture that sticks, you have to apply Miller's framework internally:

You aren't the hero of the story. Your team members are the heroes. You? You are the Guide.

The Guide’s Playbook

Think of Gandalf, Katniss’s Haymitch, or Yoda. They aren’t there to win the war. They are there to give the hero the tools, the plan, and the confidence to win it themselves.

To lead on purpose, you need to master two things:

1. Empathy: Acknowledge the internal problems your team faces, eg, the frustration of silos, the confusion of unclear goals, or the feeling of being undervalued.
2. Authority: Show them you’ve walked this path before and have the framework to lead them out of the woods.

Solving the Right Problem

In leadership, we often confuse the "what" with the "how it feels." Most leaders focus exclusively on External problems like:

• "We need more sales"
• "We need to finish this project."

But your Heroes (your team) are actually motivated to solve Internal problems like:

• "I don’t want to feel like a failure"
• "I want to know my work actually matters."

If you only address the external, you’re just a manager. When you address the internal, you become a Guide. You aren't just fixing a workflow. Rather, you are restoring a teammate's confidence.

Your 3-Step Guide to Leading

If you want to start Leading on Purpose today, don't overcomplicate it. Follow this plan:

1. Listen for the Frustration: Find one internal problem a team member is facing.
2. Clarify the Win: Remind them exactly what success looks like for their specific role.
3. Invite them into the Story: Show them how their daily tasks are moving the whole tribe toward the goal.

A Double Dose of Celebration and Growth

Speaking of being a Guide, we have two massive milestones coming up that are designed to help you sharpen your leadership toolkit:

1. A Birthday Toast to Cohesive Leadership! This February 20th marks the one-year anniversary of the launch of our book, Becoming a Cohesive Leader: The POWERup Guide to Grow, Develop, and Advance Your Career. It’s been an incredible year of helping leaders move from managing groups to leading cohesive teams. If you’ve read it, thank you for being part of the journey. If you haven't, there’s no better day to start building a more cohesive culture.
2. Choosing the RIGHT Sales Training - One Day Bootcamp - Are you a decision maker tired of the sales program of the month cycle? On March 20th, we are hosting a Bootcamp specifically for leaders who need to cut through the noise. We are educating you on the different sales methodologies out there so you can choose the one that fits your culture and your goals.

What’s at Stake?

We’ve all seen what happens when a story has no guide. Teams drift, talent leaves for greener pastures, and the culture becomes a series of checkboxes instead of a shared mission. But when you get the leadership and the sales training right, you build a legacy where people actually enjoy coming to work.

Don't let your team struggle without a map. Be the guide they need.