This video is one of my favourite TED talks that has both inspired and motivated me.
As a first year Sauder student, I’ve always wondered how some businesses are so much more successful than others. What is it that makes these companies different from the rest of its competitors? How do you motivate your workers?….What is the definition of a Great Leader?
In the video, Simon Sinek presented a simple, yet powerful model for inspirational leadership. He stated that most companies operate and communicate with the order of (1) What (companies’ products), (2)How (products’ features and functions) and then expect some results in sales. However, he introduced a new idea in which true successful companies communicate first with (3)Why (Why we do what we do), (2)How, then finally(1) What. It is what the company believes, its company belief (the brand value), that has driven customers of the same beliefs to purchase these products.
Similarly, true leaders inspire others by stating what they believe in, instead of telling others what they do. Those with no belief, their workers will work for profit; those with beliefs, however, will attract workers of the same beliefs and they will work because they “want” to and not because they have to. Hence, people (whether customers or employees) do what they do for no one but themselves – they choose to follow merely for their own believes.
From this video, I learned to always communicate with my core values first. I learned that in order to be successful, we cannot simply be a leader, but we must become those who lead.
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