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What Most Leaders Get Wrong (Simon Sinek)

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Jan 27, 2026

Guest

Simon Sinek

Simon Sinek, author and leadership expert known for Start With Why, shares a concise take on modern leadership as service, not authority. He discusses finding your why, clarity as a decision filter, building trust through responsibility, reshaping toxic cultures, and everyday acts that create safety and loyalty.

01:30:26

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INSIGHT

People Buy Why You Believe

People buy into what you believe, not just what you sell.
Simon Sinek explains that communicating your "why" taps the limbic brain and creates loyalty.

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ADVICE

Use Your Why As A Decision Filter

Clarify your why so others can make decisions for you.
Use your why as a filter to save time, money, and ensure consistent choices.

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ADVICE

Friend Test To Find Your Why

Ask close friends "Why are we friends?" to surface your value to others.
Use their repeated descriptions to identify your personal why and areas of impact.

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People buy why, not what

The Celery Test: clarity guides choices

05:41 • 5min

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How to discover your why

10:21 • 12min

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Turning why into action and business

22:02 • 5min

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Living your why: balance and reminders

Why knowing your why aids success

32:10 • 2min

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Learning through struggle and ADHD

34:28 • 3min

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Teach people to be resourceful

37:27 • 2min

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Service as leadership

39:30 • 10min

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Everyday ways to serve others

Leading versus managing

55:07 • 3min

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How to change a toxic culture

Courage, integrity and availability

01:16:39 • 7min

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Why optimism and work as a Trojan horse

01:23:39 • 4min

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Current pursuits: training, app, friendship

01:27:22 • 3min

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Letting go of needing to be right

• Mentioned in 88 episodes

The Infinite Game

Simon Sinek

In 'The Infinite Game', Simon Sinek distinguishes between finite and infinite games. Finite games have known players, fixed rules, and a clear endpoint, whereas infinite games, like business and life, have no defined endpoint and are played to continue the game rather than to win. Sinek argues that leaders who adopt an infinite mindset, focusing on a 'Just Cause', building 'Trusting Teams', having 'Worthy Rivals', practicing 'Existential Flexibility', and showing the 'Courage to Lead', will build stronger, more innovative, and resilient organizations. The book uses real-world examples to illustrate the benefits of an infinite mindset and the pitfalls of a finite mindset in business and leadership.

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• Mentioned in 90 episodes

Finite and infinite games

James P. Carse

In this book, James P. Carse distinguishes between finite and infinite games. Finite games are instrumental activities with clear rules, boundaries, and winners, such as sports, politics, and wars. Infinite games, on the other hand, are authentic interactions that aim to continue the play, changing rules and boundaries as needed. Carse explores how these concepts apply to various aspects of life, including culture, religion, sexuality, and self-discovery. He argues that finite games offer wealth, status, and power, while infinite games provide something more subtle and grander, such as true freedom and endless possibility. The book offers insights into how approaching life as either a finite or infinite game affects one's choices, satisfaction, and success.

• Mentioned in 627 episodes

Man's Search for Meaning

Viktor Frankl

The book is divided into two parts. The first part recounts Frankl's harrowing experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps, including Auschwitz, between 1942 and 1945. He describes the inhumane conditions and the psychological and emotional struggles of the prisoners. The second part introduces Frankl's theory of logotherapy, which posits that the primary human drive is the search for meaning, rather than pleasure. Frankl argues that meaning can be found through three main avenues: work (doing something significant), love (caring for another), and suffering (finding meaning in one's own suffering). The book emphasizes the importance of finding purpose and meaning in life, even in the most adverse conditions, as a key factor in survival and personal growth.

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• Mentioned in 219 episodes

Start with Why

How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action

Simon Sinek

In 'Start with Why', Simon Sinek introduces the concept of 'The Golden Circle', which consists of 'Why', 'How', and 'What'. He argues that successful leaders and organizations start with their purpose or 'Why', which inspires loyalty and trust. Sinek uses examples such as Apple, Martin Luther King Jr., and the Wright Brothers to illustrate how this approach can lead to significant influence and success. The book emphasizes the importance of leadership and purpose in inspiring others and achieving long-term success.

In this powerful conversation, Emma sits down with Simon Sinek to redefine what leadership actually looks like in today’s world.

Known for shaping how millions think about purpose and influence, Simon goes deeper than theory, challenging the outdated idea that leadership is about authority, titles, or control. Instead, he breaks down why real leadership is rooted in responsibility: the responsibility to help people feel safe, supported, and able to do their best work.

Together, Emma and Simon explore why so many people feel disconnected from their jobs, why traditional leadership models are failing, and what it really means to lead in service of others. Simon reflects on his own journey to finding purpose, the discomfort that came with it, and why clarity—not charisma—is the foundation of trust, loyalty, and lasting success.

This episode is a grounded, honest look at leadership without ego, purpose without performance, and the new rules required to build cultures—and lives—that actually work.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

Why leadership isn’t about being in charge, it’s about taking responsibility for people
How helping people is the true job of a leader
Why so many leaders get it wrong, even with good intentions
What it really means to “find your why” and keep it in balance
The difference between authority and trust
Why great leaders are made, not born
How to lead without burning out yourself or your team
The simple mindset shift that creates loyalty, safety, and long-term success
Why service not power is the foundation of meaningful leadership

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