Episode 42: How clarity of purpose is instrumental for focus and direction, with Hanli Pretorius

Leadership Amplified by Dr Karen Morley

This is such an important piece of advice that Hanli Pretorius offers in this Leadership Amplified episode. Hanli is General Manager, People and Culture – Defence and Social Infrastructure at Ventia. As she says, while she got into HR by chance rather than design - she took on a job, and found herself a career - she’s had great leadership support and the freedom to play and experiment to implement new programs or technologies. She’s had experience across many different organisations and industries, both partnering in the business as well as working in a centre of excellence. Hanli says ‘This year I have shifted in leaps and bounds in my thinking around my purpose. There's such power in having clarity in your own mind and being able to articulate it.’ Since clarifying her own purpose, she’s been very aware of noticing when others articulate theirs and how it conveys their focus and strength of direction. She says ‘When you hear someone else able to clearly articulate their purpose it's quite striking.’ It’s striking to hear the clarity about what they DO want and what they DON’T want. She says, and I can only agree, ‘The inability of people to say no to things comes from not being clear about whatever contribution you want to make to an organisation or society.’ (Clarity doesn’t always make it EASY, but it does makes it EASIER.) ‘The ability to be clear about my purpose, what I want, to recognise and articulate it, has given me focus, it has been powerful and refreshing.’ These are Hanli’s three pieces of advice for early-career HR people: Don't specialise too early on in your carer Value in working as both a BP and in a centre of excellence Gain experience with multiple organisations/industries Listen in for access to much more of Hanli’s wisdom.