February 19, 2026
Friday is National Leadership Day in the US
Know Your Why, Share Your Why, and Act on Your Why to provide a clear connection, engagement, and learning with energy moving forward.
US.
Friday is also the birthday of one of my long-term mentors and the widely considered #1 leadership expert, Dr. John C. Maxwell. John left a highly successful ministry to teach leadership around the world, creating Maxwell Leadership, a multi-company Speaking, Training, Coaching, Publishing, and Nonprofit Maxwell Foundation, serving the world with 59,000 certified coaches. John has dedicated himself to bringing a better style of leadership than is currently seen in this world through Maxwell Leadership, which he characterizes as “leadersad,” and has authored over 100 books. Instead of taking a successful ministry retirement, he chose to start a risky endeavor, creating what is now a multi-company international organization dedicated to equipping and developing leaders by adding value to leaders so that they can add value to those they lead. I am honored to be an executive program leader at Maxwell Leadership. I have witnessed John’s adherence to his why/purpose. Our twice-yearly International Maxwell Conference starts with John sharing the essentials of Maxwell Leadership, our DNA. We all start with this: “we are people of value, who work with people of value to add value to them by equipping and developing leaders to add value to those they lead. John’s is now our founder, and new CEO Mark Cole reminds us that “everyone deserves to be well led.”There is no doubt that John’s Why/Purpose is the Maxwell leadership DNA, and alignment is an expectation that drives my leadership practice and the work I get to do with those I get to work with. I am especially proud that we at Maxwell Leadership have developed a values-based leadership curriculum for schools, ILead, which is used by one million schoolchildren in the US today.
John often says, “that leaders know the way, show the way, and go the way.” They act in alignment with their Why/Purpose purpose
Friday is a few days removed from another celebration of self–leadership, demonstrating the power of acting in one’s Why/Purpose. On Monday at the Milano Cortina Olympics, during the women’s monobob event. Elana Meyers Taylor, 41, and teammate Kaille Humphreys, 40, did what many might consider impossible, given their circumstances. Meyers Taylor 41, with a history of concussions and raising two special needs children, and Armbruster Humpries, just eight months from childbirth, finished Gold and Bronze, respectively. Both athletes have competed in numerous Olympics and world championships, Humphries for the US and Canada. One might wonder why, given their ages and circumstances. A CBS article about Myers Taylor could have described both women’s journey of self-leadership: “It’s all downhill after 40. Downhill at screaming speeds, that is, fast enough to capture Olympic gold, which is precisely what 41-year-old Elana Meyers Taylor did Monday night in the women’s monobob. This quote could have easily described Kaillie Armbruster-Humphries’s performance. These two athletes, like many others at Milano Cortina, are examples of self-leadership, knowing their Why/Purpose and acting in alignment with it.
What do John Maxwell, Elana Myles Taylor, and Kaillie Armbruster Humphries have in common? It is not the sport; John golfs, Myles Taylor, and Armbruster Humphries careen down dangerous paths at high speeds. The commonalities are that they practice self-leadership, know their Why/Their purpose, and have clarity of action aligned to that Why/Purpose. Obviously, age doesn’t factor into their leadership.
There could not be a better day to consider this essential element for bringing your best self to your leadership practice. One’s Leadership practice is an inside-out journey of continual development and practice, starting with the core first. Self-leadership is fundamental and the precursor to all effective leadership. The core of leadership is a rock-solid foundation of values, purpose/why, motive, and mindset. This Thursday’s leadership insight article, “Bringing Your Best Self to Your Leadership Practice,” asks leaders: What is your Why/Purpose? We will consider what is meant by knowing your why/purpose, the benefits for a leader and their organization of knowing and acting on their why, and a process to develop your Why/Purpose as a leader.
What is meant by your “Why/Purpose”?
Understanding, clarity, and acting on your “Why/Purpose are crucial for effective leadership. This concept, popularized by leadership experts such as Simon Sinek, Michael Jr., and John Maxwell, and most recently Brian and Gabrielle Boshe’s in their 2025 book The Purpose Factor: Extreme Clarity for Why You are Here and What to Do about It, emphasizes the importance of purpose in guiding leaders and inspiring those they lead.
Finding your “why” involves identifying the core purpose that drives you as a leader. Leadership expert Simon Sinek, in his groundbreaking books, Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action and Find Your Why: A Practical Guide for Discovering Purpose for You and Your Team and renowned Ted Talk How great leaders inspire action defines the Why as “Your “Why” is a statement of purpose that describes why you do the work you do and why you live your lifestyle. It is your calling. It is your conviction. It is your mission statement.” Sinek describes this as the “golden circle,” where the “why” is at the center, driving the “how” and “what” of your actions. He states, “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.
Brian and Gabrielle Boshe, in their 2025 book The Purpose Factor: Extreme Clarity for Why You are Here and What to Do about It, provide an online assessment considering four purpose factors, natural advantage, acquired skills,pull-passion, and origin story that make up one’s purpose and fulfillment factor.
John C. Maxwell tells a story that exemplifies this point. “Maxwell recounts a story about a man who came across three bricklayers busy at work. The man asked the first bricklayer what he was doing. “I’m laying bricks,” the worker replied. He then asked the second bricklayer the same question. “I’m putting up a wall,” he said. The passerby then asked the question again, this time to the third bricklayer. The response: “I’m building a cathedral to worship my God.” Clearly, the third brick layer knew his why, and his behaviors aligned with it.
Comedian Michael Jr. provided a powerful example of knowing and acting on your Why at the Global Leadership Summit. Click the link below to view this powerful example clarifying your why/purpose and how it energizes you and those you lead—Michael JR When you know Your Why. Watch it three times to enhance your understanding of the power of this video clip. Watch it once, concentrating on the Comedian Michael Jr.Watch it again, focusing on the Music teacher signing. Third, watch it again, focusing on how the audience is affected during the video clip. It is an illuminating look at the power of knowing and acting in one’s Why/Purpose.
One of history’s darkest moments provided a powerful example of living in one’s ‘why’ or purpose. This example was shared by the late author, psychiatrist Victor Frankl, in his book Man’s Search for Meaning. Frankl survived the horrors of years in a Nazi concentration camp during World War II. He credited much of his survival to understanding that he could act in line with his why/purpose. He wrote, “When you know your Why, you can endure any How.”
Leaders who are clear on their why/purpose have a strong influence on their organizations and are purposeful. In a 2023 LinkedIn article, Discovering Your Why: The Key to Purposeful Leadership, Cedric Boue writes, “Leading with purpose means that you have a clear understanding of what drives you, motivates you, and gives you meaning in your leadership role. It is essential because having a strong sense of purpose helps you make better decisions, be more resilient, and positively impact those around you.
When you know your Why, you know your way”.
Michael Hyatt
elow are six benefits for a leader and their organization when they are clear and act in alignment with their why/purpose.
1. Clarity and focus: Knowing your “why/purpose” provides clarity and direction. It helps you stay focused on your core values and goals, making it easier to make decisions and set priorities.
2. Motivation and resilience: Your “why/purpose” is a powerful motivator, especially during challenging times. It helps you stay committed and resilient, driving you to overcome obstacles and persist in your efforts. Sinek notes that leaders who act on their “why” inspire others to follow them, creating a ripple effect of motivation and commitment.
3. Authenticity and trust: A leader acting in alignment with their “why/purpose” fosters authenticity and builds trust with their team. When leaders are transparent about their purpose, it fosters trust and loyalty among their followers.
“People don’t buy what you sell. They buy Why you sell it?’
Simon Sinek
4. Enhanced performance and innovation
Purpose-driven leadership drives higher performance and innovation. Oliver Morgan in an article for Morghan Latif. How to Define Your Purpose as a Leader writes More than ever before, leadership must be guided by purpose. Why? Because purpose-driven leaders inspire stronger performance from their teams, which has a marked impact on their organisations. Numerous studies have revealed striking and wide-ranging benefits. Purpose-oriented companies enjoy 30% higher levels of innovation and 40% higher workforce retention than their rivals, according to research from Deloitte. Furthermore, a study from DDI, The Conference Board, and EY discovered that leaders who work in organizations with a defined purpose statement are twice as likely to derive meaning from their work and report 60% higher energy levels.
6. Positive Organizational Culture: Leaders who are clear on and act on their “Why” contribute to a positive and cohesive organizational culture. They create a shared sense of purpose that unites the team, fostering collaboration and teamwork. This, in turn, leads to higher levels of employee satisfaction and retention.
Having read so far, it would seem “a blinding flash of the obvious “that all leaders would want to discover, clarify, and act in alignment with their Why. The truth is that Morgan, in his article, reports the opposite. He writes, “Given all of this, it is concerning that less than one-fifth of leaders say they have a strong sense of their individual purpose. This data, when combined with the fact that 83% of organizations believe they desperately need intentional leadership development programs, as cited by DDI, yet only 5% do, can be discouraging.
This data can also serve as a starting point.
Below is a practical five-step plan to define, clarify, and act in your Why as a leader
1. Self-Reflection: Take time to reflect on your values, passions, and experiences. Consider what drives you and what impact you want to have.
2. Seek Feedback: Ask trusted colleagues, coaches, or mentors who will be brutally honest with you for feedback on your strengths and what they see as your unique contributions.
3. Create a “Why” Statementand or complete a Purpose Factor Assessment:
Give Yourself a timeout! Find a quiet time and space. Reflect on your experiences, beliefs, worldview, and passions to make a difference.
Simon Sinek in Find Your Why (2017) provides an easy exercise to start the process of discovering or refining your Why.
Complete the Why statement below,
My Why is TO_( my activity)_________________
So That__( my contribution)____________________
Seek out a colleague or a leadership coach to work with who shares your commitment to focusing and clarity about your “Why “and will be honest with you.
Review your Why statement with each other for clarity and honesty. You may end up rewriting it until you feel good about it, and your colleague or a leadership coach agrees that this is you. Review it daily for a week and meet with your colleague or a leadership coach again to review the process and refine your statement as needed. Post your Why statement in a visible place to see daily and let it guide decisions. Commit to reviewing the statement periodically.
Also consider taking a Purpose Factor Assessment and reviewing it with a certified Purpose Factor Coach.
4. Commit to acting in your “Why/Purpose “: Align your actions and decisions with your “Why.” Communicate your purpose to your team and lead by example.
5. Review and refine your “Why/Purpose “periodically. This practice will help a leader maintain focus and movement.
In conclusion, finding and acting on your “why/purpose ” is a transformative practice for leaders. It brings clarity, motivation, and authenticity to one’s leadership practice, benefiting both the leader and the organization. A leader who acts in their Why/Purpose grows themselves and their organization through their leadership practice. This is not just a philosophy but a practical approach that leads to meaningful and lasting impact, benefiting the leader’s self-leadership and the leadership of all they serve.
Elana Myles Taylor, Kailllie Armbruster Humphries, and John C. Maxwell, in their own arenas, are living models of self-leadership, creating significance and legacy, who exemplify “when you know your why, you know your way.”
The Leadership Questions for you are;
1. What is your Why/Purpose in your leadership practice?
2. Are your actions, decisions, and behavior aligned with your Why/Purpose?
3. Can you implement the action steps above to discover, refine, or clarify your Why /Purpose and ensure your leadership practices align with your Why/Purpose?