Welcome to The Purpose Chair
Representing Nature
The Boards and management team of all organisations have their Seats of Responsibility, the Purpose Chair sits with these at all meetings to ensure the leaders reflect on the impact of all aspects that are pertinent to good governance in consideration of people and planet while still ensuring full stakeholder ongoing prosperity.
The chair represents nature, this amazing thing that provides so much and needs care and kindness for it to continue to provide. It is nature’s rich earth that grows our food and clothes, the crops that feed our animals, and it is the original source of most of our medicines from resources delivering minerals and extractions. This rich earth, this amazing little blue planet with its oceans and waterways and dynamic biodiversity, breathes in when we breathe out and breathes out so we can breathe in. The Purpose Chair represents the intricate balance of nature of which we understand a minuscule amount and discover more of all the time; the animals that intrigue, and the landscapes that surprise; it represents the healing and embracing of the simplicity of this blessed gift.
Consider nature for now and the future in all decisions.
Weaving Cultures
The chair depicts a weaving of culture, the diversity of people, the Indigenous of all lands, the wisdom we have gained from the past, the need to consider the children and children’s children of the future, the minorities, the differing sexes, the people of all races that make up the tapestry.
Are we being kind and considerate in our decisions? Do we leave any behind or take from the many to satisfy the desires of the few? Consider Ubuntu,
“I am because we are” or as an organisation “we are because all prosper”.
The legs of this chair are the Pillars that support and enable all to flourish and thrive.
Prosperity
The profit and sometimes the need to grow, but not always, the fair exchange, where all can be rewarded not the few, at the expense of the many. This is an important leg, yet still just one and when this becomes too focused all the rest tilt and are unbalanced. Can we see how best to set equilibrium in place.
Structure and Processes
Are foundational to a resilient and robust business, and it is where we find the levels that are appropriate for the time. Too restrictive and everyone gets tied in knots, too little and the circuitousness continues. There is no right and wrong, just shades and energy committed to deliver, with all clear on where and why strategies exist and then we know visions can be delivered. Find balance and openness to the potential of all to give their most when allowed to be themselves, their whole selves.
And a subtle leg, the ongoing and continuous development of all within an organisation, both hard and soft skills. The ability to be our best and to grow and prosper as individuals so we can contribute meaningfully. Wholeness and wellbeing are required for a full approach from a board and/or management perspective to ensure that burnout and mental fatigue don’t waste the energy and resources necessary to achieve the best individually and collectively. To start each day with “how do I want to be, in this day, week, project, team, business, community, meeting, how do I want to be today?”
The Value of Being Present and Ready for Board and Other Meetings
In today’s fast-paced environment, it’s easy to rush from one activity to the next, often arriving at meetings without the focus and presence needed for meaningful participation.
Purpose Chair and Discussion Tools
To help counteract this, the words overleaf discussing the Purpose Chair may be useful as discussion points. Additionally, the enclosed set of Discussion Cards offers thought-provoking quotes from a variety of people.
These cards can be used to initiate conversations before board or other key meetings. Reflecting on a quote and sharing thoughts with others encourages everyone to settle into the present, fostering a deeper level of engagement and setting a collaborative tone for the meeting.
Self-Reflection in Meetings
One useful question to consider is:
“How do I want to be in this meeting?”
This question invites honesty and self-reflection, helping participants recognize and address any distractions—such as a headache, lack of sleep, or other concerns—that may impact focus.
By sharing these openly, participants allow others to offer support and create an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding.
Shifting the Mindset
Taking a few moments for intentional discussion also encourages participants to shift from a reactive, goal-oriented mindset to one that is more thoughtful and open.
This shift reduces the tendency to prove a point or “win” in a conversation and instead fosters a collaborative environment where each participant feels empowered to contribute thoughtfully.
Post-Meeting Reflections
Finally, a few minutes of reflection at the end of each meeting—asking “How was that?” and “Is there anything we could improve for next time?”—supports a culture of continuous improvement.
This simple practice helps build trust, enhance meeting effectiveness, and ensure that the organization is moving toward its objectives with clarity and cohesion.
Supporting the Purpose chair
This simple concept has the ability to prompt people in Board and other important meetings to think of the impact of their decisions. Your assistance to getting this Chair into as many meetings as possible is greatly appreciate.
How you can support
• If you’d like to financially support this project, please send an email and we will provide the relevant details.
• Order as many as you can put into the right places to make a difference.
• Take photos of them and send them to us.
• Write a short testimonial.
Each chair currently cost $7.50 to print (we are hoping this will come down with quantities) it is a slightly complex job at present requiring two machines. Freight of shipping varies and can be much more than the cost of the chair. If you can contribute and support, it is most welcome.
Discussion Cards
These cards offer thought-provoking quotes from a variety of people that can be used to initiate conversations before board or other key meetings. Reflecting on a quote and sharing thoughts with others encourages everyone to settle into the present, fostering a deeper level of engagement and setting a collaborative tone for the meeting.