The Science of Purpose: Core Purpose Statement and the Evidence Behind Sustainable Leadership Growth

When I started working with the Intelligent Leadership Executive Coaching framework developed by John Mattone, I was a bit skeptical about one of its foundational concepts: the Core Purpose Statement (CPS). Purpose has become such a buzzword, often diluted by corporate mission statements and leadership books.

But working through my own CPS changed my perspective. It forced me to confront and articulate my deepest values, motivations, and aspirations. It didn’t become a statement to frame, it became a compass guiding my daily actions and decisions.

When I introduced the CPS to clients, I saw the same effect. This kind of mindset shift, defining “the leader they want to become (and must become)”, impacted everything: the goals they set, the decisions they made, and how they spent their time.

And yes, I realize that even mindset shift sounds like another buzzword — but in this case, it moves far beyond slogans. It helps leaders consistently align who they are with how they lead, especially in complex and challenging situations.

Research now reinforces what I’ve experienced firsthand. In the recent Meaning at Work study, nearly 3,000 professionals, including many in leadership roles, participated in a structured Discover Your Purpose intervention.

Over two years, they showed sustained improvements in performance and well-being. And importantly, teams led by these individuals experienced improved collaboration and greater trust, leading to healthier and more productive workplace dynamics.

In that sense, the CPS is not just an exercise in reflection — it proves to be a critical and highly practical tool for leadership effectiveness in today’s complex environment.

That’s why it’s important that this work isn’t treated as a one-off exercise but is fully integrated into a broader coaching journey, where purpose becomes a lived experience rather than a written statement.

Source: Ashraf, Nava and Bandiera, Oriana and Minni, Virginia and Zingales, Luigi, Meaning at Work (May 12, 2025). University of Chicago, Becker Friedman Institute for Economics Working Paper No. 2025-67, Available at https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5253315