People, purpose, and passion: Glenn Lurie explains what leaders can learn from these three pies
When Glenn Lurie was president and CEO of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Operations, he was responsible for more than 100,000 employees. With such a large workforce, Lurie understood the importance of ensuring that everyone in the company shares the same goals and mindset every day.
Working with the senior team at AT&T, Lurie developed his “Three P’s” business philosophy. The three P’s stand for “People, Purpose and Passion.” This mantra became one of the tools Lurie used to foster a company-wide dynamic culture. The three P’s helped AT&T Mobility develop a reputation as “people, people with full purpose and passion every day.”
Here’s what leaders can learn from Lurie’s three Ps philosophy:
- People: Take care of your coworkers and employees.
- Objective: Employees should know why their work is important.
- Passion: Employees who love their job can inspire others, and it’s not just work.
1. People: Take care of your employees
The first “P” of Lurie’s business philosophy, “people”, highlights how important employees are to a company. While keeping customers happy is important, Lurie points out that taking care of the people on your team should be a top priority for leaders.
Research shows that when people are happy at work, they are approximately 12% more productive. Additionally, teams that are highly engaged in their work show 21% higher profitability. And employees who feel heard by their employers are nearly five times more likely to “feel empowered to do their best work.”
A “people person” is a person who effortlessly connects with others and enjoys interacting with them. Such individuals often demonstrate empathy, caring, and the ability to build relationships.
Lurie advises business leaders to take the same people-centered approach to team leadership. Making sure employees feel valued and appreciated can help employers develop a workplace culture that supports company goals.
2. Objective: Employees should know why their work is important
The second of Lurie’s three Ps, “Purpose,” means making sure employees understand how their work helps their colleagues and the company as a whole succeed.
Lurie says that having a sense of purpose can help employees feel connected to the company’s larger goals. In turn, this can help employees feel more valued and motivated.
High levels of motivation in teams can have many benefits, including increased engagement and lower turnover rates. Furthermore, motivated employees can influence other members of their team to work harder and perform well.
Lurie encourages business leaders to find out what motivates their employees and make sure each team member understands their team and individual purpose.
3. Passion: Employees who love their job can inspire others
An employee who loves their job, knows why they do it, and cares about their coworkers embodies the third “P,” which is “passion.”
Lurie advises leaders to focus on building a team of passionate employees. These people are vital to a vibrant company culture. Their enthusiasm can inspire, engage and motivate other team members.
A study found that 78% of employees are passionate about their daily work, but only 44% are passionate about their job and the organization they work for. Bridging this “passion gap” can be the key to building a company culture based on dedication and enthusiasm.
Lead by example – walk the talk
It’s important to help employees feel valued, purposeful, and passionate, but it’s also important to lead by example. In addition to creating a positive workplace culture, Lurie’s three P’s can be helpful tools for business leaders in maintaining a disciplined business approach.
Leaders can set a good example for a healthy company culture by:
- Adopting a people-first mentality.
- Understanding their purpose in the broader organization.
- Having passion for your work and the broader goals of the company.
By following Lurie’s three P’s, leaders can create a company culture where employees, partners and customers prosper through trusted relationships and business innovation.
About Glenn Lurie
Glenn Lurie is an experienced business leader, innovator and consultant who has spent more than 30 years in the technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) sector. He is also a skilled negotiator whose deals have helped change the role of smartphones and connected devices in today’s world.
Lurie’s leadership roles include:
- Chairman, CEO and member of the board of directors of Synchronoss Technologies.
- President and CEO of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Operations.
- Chairman of AT&T Mobility’s Emerging Enterprises and Partnerships organization.
- President of AT&T Mobility’s Emerging Devices organization (now the Internet of Things organization).
In 1987, Lurie graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a Bachelor of Arts in Business/Marketing. After a short career as a professional football player, he began selling cell phones at McCaw Cellular. After rapidly exceeding his sales goals, Lurie joined AT&T, holding various leadership positions within the telecommunications company.
Lurie is currently a partner at Stormbreaker Ventures, a California-based venture capital firm. As an experienced start-up advisor, Lurie uses his decades of experience growing and managing multi-billion dollar businesses to support entrepreneurs in the mobility sector. He is also a member of the board of directors of various technology companies, including Avis Budget Group, Pivotal Comware, Blue Link Wireless, and Teal Communications.
Connect with Glenn Lurie on LinkedIn.