“Articulating Your Why”: It’s not enough to know your ‘Why’; you must also be able to clearly articulate it to others.

Case

Doe, as we’ll call her, absolutely embodies the concept of “Articulating Your Why.” Jane is a brilliant engineer, and she has known her ‘why’ for as long as she can remember. As a child, she was fascinated with the way things worked, always taking apart household appliances just to put them back together again. This curiosity followed her through her educational journey and fostered a deep passion for engineering. She wanted to understand the underlying mechanisms of everything, to innovate and create. In essence, her ‘why’ was clear: to leverage her technical skills to solve complex problems and make a lasting impact on the world.

However, knowing her ‘why’ was only part of the equation. Jane quickly realized that her passion and purpose would remain stagnant if she couldn’t articulate them to others. Early in her career, Jane found herself struggling to express why her work mattered or how it aligned with broader company goals and societal opportunities. She noticed that her colleagues, although highly skilled, seemed just as perplexed. They’d been trained to solve equations, design systems, and optimize processes, but articulating the purpose behind their work was another story.

Jane saw this as an opportunity to not only enhance her own communication skills but also foster a culture of purposeful work within her team. She took the initiative and started to actively articulate her ‘why’. It wasn’t enough for her to merely mention her passion for engineering; she had to paint a vivid picture of how her work impacted her colleagues, the company, and society as a whole.

She began by connecting the dots between her technical tasks and the overall mission of the company. When she designed a new system, she wouldn’t only discuss the technical specifications; she’d also explain how this system would improve operational efficiency, save costs, and ultimately bring value to the customer. She started to see her colleagues’ understanding of her work evolve. It was no longer just ‘Jane’s project’ – it became a vital part of the company’s operations.

Beyond just her team, Jane also started to communicate her ‘why’ to wider circles. She represented her company at industry conferences, speaking about her innovations and their larger implications. Here, too, she emphasized her ‘why’: to use her skills to solve complex problems and impact society positively.

Jane’s story highlights the power of articulating your ‘why’. It’s not enough to know your purpose; you must be able to express it clearly to others. When you articulate your ‘why’, you inspire others, you create a shared understanding, and you reinforce the wider relevance of your work. Knowing her ‘why’ made Jane a passionate engineer, but articulating her ‘why’ made her a leader.

Resources

Video