
Well, that might be good enough when dealing with workers doing repetitive, pre-defined chores. They may think that teaching the team how to do their tasks is all that's left to do. Some leaders might argue that telling people what to do is the shorter, more efficient path to success. Creating the conditions for them to succeed should be your number one priority. When you lead a team, your success depends on the team's ability to accomplish its mission. You're supposed to start with the WHY and move outwards, to the HOW, and finally the WHAT.Īs Simon points out, Martin Luther King gave the "I have a dream" speech, not the "I have a plan" speech. The real breakthrough is the direction in which to move in the Golden Circle. WHY - Few leaders make an effort to communicate why they do what they do: What's their purpose? Why does the organization exist? And why should anyone care? Their unique value proposition, differentiators, and values.

HOW - Most leaders also explain how they do what they do. Since it's so straightforward, that is where they usually start.

WHAT - Every leader can articulate what they, and their company, do. Simon created The Golden Circle, a simple framework that consists of 3 concentric layers: WHAT, HOW, and WHY. Either way, learning to start with WHY can be extremely valuable. Or maybe you want to feel more inspired at work.

Perhaps you have your sights on developing incredible leadership skills and galvanizing others. "We follow them, not because we have to, but because we want to."

Holding a position of power or authority can define you as a leader, but those who truly lead are the ones who inspire us. Simon Sinek - the author of ' Start With Why How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action' - identified a pattern in the thoughts, actions, and communication of great leaders like Steve Jobs, Martin Luther King, or the Wright brothers.Īccording to Simon, great leaders share a process that is the exact opposite of what the large majority of average, unremarkable leaders do.
