Why
Coming to terms with your “why” connects you with your core values and roots you. Your vision unlocks your deepest motivations. Making the connection between your deepest heartfelt values and your everyday work will make you unstoppable.
Simon Sinek’s first TEDx talk from 2009 is about that topic.
Starting with your WHY to inspire. This talk is now the 3rd most watched TED talk of all time, sitting at well over 46 million views. I first came across it in 2012 and was instantly hooked on the idea – recently I saw that TEDx talk again: after 10 years it is still inspiring and relevant to a lot of people.
His mantra is so magnetic is that it’s incredibly simple, yet very universal – many of history’s most inspiring leaders seem to have internalised his idea of the golden circle and communicate it the right way: follow the golden circle of WHY – HOW – WHAT.
Introduction to The Golden Circle
Why are some people and organisations more innovative, more influential and more profitable than others? Even among the successful, why are so few able to repeat their success over and over? In studying the leaders who have had the greatest influence in the world, Simon Sinek discovered that they all think, act and communicate in the exact same way – and it’s the complete opposite to everyone else. Sinek calls this powerful idea The Golden Circle.
Most people can explain What they do; some can explain How they do it; but very few can articulate Why. Our Why is the overarching purpose or cause that drives us when we are at our best. It’s what inspires us to get out of bed in the morning. You’re more likely to land a job you love when each step in the job seeking process starts with Why and follows the pattern of The Golden Circle.
- WHY – Your purpose, cause or belief
- HOW – Your strength, value and guiding principles
- WHAT – Products sold, services offered or your role at work.
„People don’t buy WHAT you do, they buy WHY you do it.“
For The Golden Circle to be most effective, to truly inspire, we must remember two things:
1 – Order Matters: Simply having the Why buried in there is not enough. We must think, act and communicate from the inside-out of The Golden Circle. We must start with Why.
2 – Balance: All three levels of The Golden Circle must be in balance. This means you must have clarity, discipline and consistency.
Clarity of Why
- Purpose, cause or belief
- The Why is the single driving motivation for action
Discipline of How
- Values or guiding principles
- Hows are the specific actions that are taken to realize the Why
Consistency of What
- Tangible proof or results
- Whats are the tangible manifestations of the Why
