COMMON PURPOSE : How Great Leaders Get Organizations to Achieve the Extraordinary

What is common purpose? It is that rare, almost-palpable experience that happens when a leader coalesces a group, team or community into a creative, dynamic, brave and nearly invincible we. It happens the moment the organization’s values, tools, objectives and hopes are internalized in a way that enables people to work tirelessly toward a goal. Years ago, there was a book about the inner game of tennis which changed the way people think about and play sports. Common purpose is the inner game of leadership. Common purpose is rarely achieved. But Kurtz man has observed that when a leader is able to bring it about, the results are outsized, measurable and inspiring. Common Purpose is a book about leaders, leadership and how to lead. It is based on Kurtz man’s recent interviews with more than 50 leaders. It is also based on research on leadership he has conducted over the years beginning at The New York Times, the Harvard Business Review, Booz and Company, during his career as a partner at Price water house Coopers, his own consulting firm and for groups like Mercer HR, Korn or Ferry International and Heidrick and Struggles.