As so often happens, the above Ted Talk “How Great Leaders Inspire Action” given by Simon Sinek, begins by exploring the success of Apple. He goes on to discuss the Wright Brothers and Martin Luther King. This video has my mind spinning.
(It’s 18 minutes, but if you can’t watch it now, here’s my take on it…)
The Essence: People appreciate, admire, follow you because of what you believe, not because of what you do.
This is hugely important… when trying to win someone over in some way (job interview, sales conversation, interpersonal exchange) how many of us stop to think about what we “believe”? We have a vision of what we would like the other person to do: give us the job, buy our product, be our friend, etc. but how often do we connect with the deeper “why”? And will the “superficial” why actually get them to “buy”?
Consider this example:
Job Interview:
Q. What are we doing?
A. Trying to get a job.
Q. Why are we doing it?
A. Because we have to pay our bills.
Not very inspiring to the person we want to hire us, is it? According to Sinek, the above “why” is actually a result we are looking for, but if that’s all that motivates us, we’re not going to get the job.
I can hear many of you now, “but that is why I work”. While that may be true, the person who’s going to get the job is going to have another “why”. And the hiring manager is going to sense it.
The one who gets the job is motivated by a deep belief that they are the best person for the job; because they know they can bring something that the company needs.
This is what’s got my head spinning. People respond to our deeper “why”, they respond to what we believe, rather than the “what” (or “result”) dance we are doing in front of them.
If we don’t know the “why” of what we do, if we don’t know what we believe, then no one else will either, and they will pass us by.
“It’s all grounded in the tenets of biology, not psychology, biology…” – Simon Sinek
Yeah, you read that right… Biology…
The Limbic System is “responsible for all of our feelings like trust and loyalty…” – Simon Sinek
According to Sinek, it’s the limbic system, the non-verbal part of our brain, that informs our emotional decisions. As the seat of our “gut reactions”, if it doesn’t feel right, we don’t do it. We follow because of the way it makes us feel about ourselves. We follow because we “believe” what they “believe”. You gotta watch the video…
It’s gotten me to thinking.
What do I believe, why am I a Coach and why should you listen to me?
You probably enjoy this blog because you share some of the same beliefs that I do.
I believe that every one of us has a beautiful Soul and that there is greatness in EVERY ONE OF US…
I believe whole-heartedly in CHOICE, and that every moment we choose how we will respond and create our lives.
I am here to awaken you to the Evolution of your Soul.
I believe that with greater consciousness comes hope for the world. Every person who gains clarity about themselves brings us closer to the awakening of the planet. As Souls we want to connect, grow and love one another, for that we must be AWAKE. I am here to awaken you to the Evolution of your Soul.
Beyond “curious”, the people I work with are ready to:
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