Robert Quinn is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, one of the co-founders of the field of positive organizational scholarship, and a co-founder of the Ross Centre for Positive Organizations. Bob’s research and writing focus on purpose, leadership, culture, and change, and he is in the top 1% of professors cited in organizational behavior textbooks. The recipient of multiple teaching awards, Bob was recently named one of the top speakers in the world on the topics of organizational culture and related issues. And last year, his talk on personal purpose went viral and has been viewed by over 16 million people. Bob has published 18 books, and his most recent book, The Economics of Higher Purpose, has just been released.
In this week’s podcast, we explore the economics of higher purpose in our workplaces and how we can find and consistently honor our purpose.
Connect with Robert Quinn:

You’ll Learn:
- [03:22] – Bob explains why the economics of higher purpose is a conversation every workplace should be exploring at the moment.
- [07:33] – Bob outlines why a higher purpose shifts our mindsets and commitment from being employees or agents to owners in our workplaces.
- [11:51] – Bob shares how workplaces can envision being a higher purpose organization and overcome the thought walls that might get in their way.
- [16:03] – Bob explains why organizations need to discover – rather than invest – their higher purpose.
- [22:13] – Bob shares his tips for embracing the messy and magical process of bringing a higher purpose to life across a workplace.
- [27:30] – Bob shares the story of how KPMG gave their people the freedom to self-organize and take responsibility for the things that matter most to them in relation to the higher purpose.
- [33:05] – Bob completes the Lightning Round.
Your Resources:
- MPPW Podcast on Facebook
- The Economics of Higher Purpose by Robert Quinn
- All You Have to Do is Ask by Wayne Baker
Thanks for listening!
Thanks so much for joining me again this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.
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Until next time, take care! Thank you Bob!


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