If you’re a Simon Sinek fan, what I’m about to say might ruffle your feathers. But I started Leadership Unplugged to talk about the real stuff: the nuance, the tension, the messy contradictions of leadership. That’s what we do here. And this week, we’re diving into one of the most celebrated leadership buzzwords: purpose. It’s meant to inspire and motivate, but at what cost? Let’s talk about the dark side of purpose.
🧠 LEARN something.
Purpose is a powerful thing, no doubt about it. It gives meaning to our work, creates a sense of belonging, and can turn an ordinary job into something that feels like a calling. In purpose-led organisations, people don’t clock in for a paycheck. They show up because they believe in the mission. All sounds great, right? But that commitment can get exploited. Regardless of whether it’s done consciously or happens unconsciously, it backfires when leaders or companies overplay the purpose or “greater good” card. When purpose is overplayed, your employees start to tie their self-worth too closely to the company’s mission and start going above and beyond more frequently, at the cost of their own health and personal boundaries.
Research shows that this not only creates an unspoken culture of overwork and risk of burnout, but it can also lead to psychological entitlement (“I’ve sacrificed, so I deserve…”) and pro-social rule-breaking (“I’ll bend the rules for the cause”). Adam Grant’s work on “giver burnout” also shows that the most purpose-driven people often carry the heaviest, most invisible loads. Hence, we see this more often in places like healthcare, education, social services, or start-ups trying to “change the world.” Even us (me and the team at The Bridge Leaders here) are susceptible to this. What makes it harder is that overplay isn’t driven by formal KPIs or deadlines, but instead by the unspoken beliefs and cultural norms no one talks about. Because at the end of the day, when organisations weaponise purpose, it quickly becomes detrimental. So yes, have an inspiring purpose – but watch out for the dark side. Because when care, passion, empathy, and purpose are overplayed, even the best and most loyal people will burn out or look for the exit.
🤔 REFLECT on an idea.
“A person’s biggest strength can be his greatest weakness when he doesn’t know how to balance it.”
Jocko Willink
We all have our strengths, and purpose is no different. When it’s balanced, it fuels meaning, drive, and loyalty. But when it’s overplayed, without guardrails or boundaries, it stops being a strength and starts becoming a source of pressure, burnout, and over time, quiet resentment and disillusion.
😊 SMILE a little.
If I hear “greater good” one more time, I’m going to start invoicing the “greater good” for my weekend overtime 🤣
✅ DO IT to get results.
What gets praised, gets practised. Humans naturally seek praise and validation. Even when we act for the “greater good,” we still look for some social affirmation—especially from a team that shares our purpose. We can’t ignore that. So here’s the real question: What are you praising, recognising, or rewarding? If you say you value balance but only celebrate people who go “above and beyond,” then you’ll create a culture where burnout isn’t just normal, it’s a badge of honour. Instead, start recognising the quiet discipline – those who say no with integrity, who set boundaries, and who prioritise their wellbeing or the team’s sustainability over the mission. Praise balance, and you’ll get balance.
And just before I go, if this resonates with you and reflects your culture, get in touch. I’d be happy to share how we support organisations like yours to shape (or reshape) cultures that align with purpose without burning people out. Believe me, I’ve lived my life in purpose-driven organisations. I get it.
🌱 How we can support you and your team.
We provide strategic leadership solutions tailored to align with your business strategy, size, and budget. We can support your with:
- 1:1 Leadership and Performance Coaching
- Team Coaching, for high performing teams
- 1:1 Health & Lifestyle Coaching for busy stressed leaders.
- Workshops, offsites and team development.
- Or our flagship individual Leadership Coaching Programs.
Kia pai tō wiki
Kenny Bhosale
CEO & Founder, The Bridge Leaders
