Between the Lines of Leadership · A Headhunter's Picks (6)
The Golden Circle, Simon Sinek
The theory has been around for years, but its impact is undeniable. It lines up perfectly with the principles that inspired the founding of W, and it's played a key role in how we've grown. By the end of this newsletter, we'll dig deeper into why it matters so much.
Here's the original TED talk, well worth watching in full:
The "Golden Circle" is a concept developed by Simon Sinek, built on his study of what makes the most influential organizations and leaders successful. The core idea behind the Golden Circle is to explain why some people and organizations are uniquely able to inspire others and achieve sustained success.
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The main points of the theory:
1. What?
- The Outer Layer: This is the "what" of an organization, the products or services it offers. Almost every organization knows what it does, and it's the most basic, accessible piece of information about a company.
2. How?
- The Middle Layer: This is the "how" of an organization, the unique processes or methods it uses to create its products or services. It can include its unique value proposition or the strategies that set it apart from the competition. Not every organization is clear on how it does what it does.
3. Why?
- The Core: This is the "why" of an organization, its purpose, cause or fundamental belief. According to Sinek, this is the most important part of the Golden Circle. It's not about making money (that's a result), it's about the company's reason for being beyond its mere commercial existence; why the organization exists, why it gets up every morning, and why anyone should care. Sinek argues that very few organizations actually operate from this "why".
Key Takeaways:
- Start With Why: Sinek argues that inspiring organizations and leaders communicate from the inside out, starting with the "why". That's the opposite of what most companies do, which is start with the "what".
- Inspiration Over Manipulation: When organizations communicate the "why", they inspire people instead of trying to manipulate them with low prices, promotions and so on.
- Loyalty and How Great Leaders Inspire Action: Focusing on the "why" attracts customers and employees who share the organization's core beliefs, building loyalty and a base of followers or workers driven by something more than transactions.
Simon Sinek's Golden Circle is fundamentally a theory of communication and leadership. It suggests that success and the ability to inspire start with a clear understanding and communication of the why behind our actions and our organizations.
As I said at the start, at W Executive España we see this as our cornerstone and the fundamental reason behind why we do what we do. This would be our golden circle:
WHY?
To make the world a better place by helping individuals and organizations achieve their dreams.
HOW?
With a group of good people who chase excellence. We bring companies and professionals together on projects that fuel the growth of society.
WHAT?
We run executive and middle-management search processes and HR consulting, in short #ExecutiveSearch and #WAdvisory.
I left you the talk at the top, but here's the link to the book too, for anyone who's interested. ("Start With Why")
Finally, I'd recommend a book he put out in 2017 that gives you practical keys to find your own "why".
