E206 - Simon Sinek: ‘Start with why’ when searching for High Performance
Jul 24, 2023
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Simon Sinek, a renowned author and inspirational speaker famous for his books on leadership, drives home the importance of 'finding your why.' He shares his personal journey of discovering purpose amidst career highs. The conversation emphasizes that high performance thrives on collaboration rather than individual effort and that meaningful feedback is essential for growth. Sinek also highlights how genuine connections and understanding one’s motivations can transform personal and professional experiences, ultimately leading to impactful leadership.
Understanding your why and communicating it effectively is essential for leadership and inspiring others.
Adversity and struggles provide opportunities for personal growth and development.
Effective leaders leave a lasting impact on others by creating environments where individuals thrive and fostering collaboration.
Deep dives
Understanding High Performance
High performance is more about a feeling than an accomplishment. It's being in flow and enjoying the work you do. It's about finding purpose and having a vision that aligns with your values. Working towards something meaningful brings joy and fulfillment. Being part of a team and collaborating with others is crucial for high performance. It's about spreading a message that transcends your own existence and creating a legacy. Having a clear why and working towards it helps in finding success and happiness.
The Power of Finding Your Why
Start with Why by Simon Sinek emphasizes the importance of knowing the why behind your actions. The why is your purpose, cause, or belief that fuels your work. Great leaders, like Martin Luther King and Steve Jobs, understand their why and communicate it effectively. When you start with why, you tap into the limbic brain, where emotions and decisions are made. By communicating your why, you create connections and inspire others. Finding your why requires introspection and understanding the experiences that shaped you. It's about identifying the unique value you bring to the world.
Overcoming Challenges and Struggles
Adversity and struggles play a significant role in personal growth and development. The most inspiring leaders have faced challenges and overcome them. Traumas and hardships often shape individuals and provide them with unique perspectives. Overcoming difficulties builds resilience, empathy, and the ability to solve problems. Struggles should be seen as opportunities for growth and learning. Embracing discomfort and seeking help from others can lead to personal breakthroughs.
Leadership and Making an Impact
Effective leaders outlive their own lives by leaving a lasting impact on others. Leaders like Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, and Richard Branson inspire others to believe in something bigger than themselves. They stand against the status quo and make people feel seen and heard. Leadership is not about being universally liked, but about being true to your values and purpose. Good leaders provide a safe space for growth and foster environments where individuals thrive. They understand the importance of being authentic and inviting collaboration.
The Importance of Constructive Feedback and Criticism
The speaker emphasizes the value of receiving constructive feedback and criticism. They highlight the importance of feedback that provides helpful insights and suggestions for improvement. The speaker mentions that they appreciate critical reviews that offer organized explanations of where their work fell short. However, they express frustration with unhelpful criticism that simply insults or lacks substance.
The Journey of Writing a Book and Building a Career
The speaker shares their experience of writing their first book and building a successful career. They discuss the initial doubts they had about their writing abilities and how they received an opportunity to publish their book through connections and networking. They explain that their blueprint for success was reflected in their book, emphasizing the importance of starting with why and engaging with early adopters. They also recount a challenging collaboration with a writer, the decision to fire them, and the process of overcoming obstacles to complete the book. Overall, the speaker highlights the importance of persistence, authenticity, and writing in a conversational style that resonates with readers.
Simon Sinek is an author and inspirational speaker. Simon is known for his books ‘Start with Why’ and ‘Find Your Why’, both of which focus on how to find your purpose and help those in your life find it too. Finding your Why, is the idea that “everyone knows what we do, some of us know how we do it, but very few of us can articulate why we do what we do.” Great leaders think, act and communicate in the exact same way, which is completely different from everyone else. They tell people why they do what they do, rather than what they do. In this episode, they delve into how Simon found his why, after becoming unfulfilled in work and life whilst at career high point and how he helps others find their why too.
They also discuss how you cannot be a high performer on your own. He shares language is crucial when giving feedback and how to shape criticism so those in power will respond well to it. This episode is a deep dive into finding your purpose, using your best attributes to their fullest and what makes a great leader.
Listen to Simon help Jake find his ‘Why’ exclusively on the High Performance App.
Download The High Performance App by clicking the link below and using the code: HPAPP https://www.thehighperformancepodcast.com/app-link
Find Simon’s book ‘Start with Why’ here: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/start-with-why-how-great-leaders-inspire-everyone-to-take-action-simon-sinek/239994?ean=9780241958223
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