How great leaders inspire action: Simon Sinek on TED.com

I just watched this video on leadership and was profoundly moved.  Outstanding information.  See some notes about the talk below and watch the video.

The golden ring of leadership demonstrated that everything we do as a leader stems from "WHY?".

People don't buy what you do, they buy WHY YOU DO IT!

Human brain is broken to three "parts."  The first is the neocortex, the rational part of the brain that focus on the "WHAT?" in a message/concept or product.

The limbic brains focuses on the middle two sections of the ring, the HOW? and the WHY?  This part of the brain is focused on feelings, trust, loyalty and directs all decision making.  Interestingly enough it is not connected to language.  So here is where those GUT decisions come from.  Why people say they have a bad feeling about something but can't put into words what that is.

Facts will not translate to feeling right.

If you don't know what you do and why you do it, who's going to buy it?

We don't hire people to do a job, we hire people because of what they believe.  Here's a secret:  If you hire people to work for you, they will work for the money, if you people that believe what you believe in, they'll work for your drive.

Why were the Wright brothers successful at flight?  Their passion was based on beliefs, hopes and dreams.  People worked for them because people believed in them.  Are you hiring people that will work for your money or for your beliefs?

What motivates you?  Money or shared beliefs?

If you talk about what you believe, you will attract those who beleive what you beleive.

Law of diffusion of innovation - first 2.5 % are innovators, 13.5 early adopters, 34% are early majority, late majority and laggards wrap up the rest of the chart.

In order for an idea to TIP and become popular (see Malcolm Gladwell's -  Tipping Point) 

Between 15 - 18 percent market penetration must be converted before an idea/concept or gadget can TIP and become popular.  Early Majority won't try something until others have already.  Geoffery Moore calls it Crossing the Chasm when translating an idea into a successful one.  TIVO was a failure only because of it's WHY even though we use the phrase non-stop in today's culture.

Why did people show up to hear Martin Luther King Jr.?  They showed up for themselves not for him.  They showed up for what he believed and why he believed it.....

We follow those who lead because they inspire us.  Not because we have to, but because we want to.  We don't do it for them, but for us.  Are you the type of person that gets to the WHY? or are you too focused on the what and the how?

Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous phrase was "I have a dream"......not, I have a plan....

People will follow a dream, there is no inspiration in a plan.



TED Blog: How great leaders inspire action: Simon Sinek on TED.com