Simon Sinek Leadership Forum: Start with Why

Summary

This blog post, "Simon Sinek Leadership Forum: Start with Why", is a blueAPACHE article from 2017 covering the topic in its title. blueAPACHE recently hosted our Insight Event in association with Veeam. It is written for readers evaluating emPOWER Consulting & Advisory. The operational guidance it sets out is not tied to a specific date or product release and remains useful to IT and business leaders assessing similar decisions today.

Key facts

Article

blueAPACHE recently hosted our Insight Event in association with Veeam. This exclusive, all-day event was specifically crafted for leaders – current and future – to help them create sustainable, high-performing cultures within their organisations. Presented by Simon Sinek and Peter Docker, it was a rare opportunity to hear one of the most sought after leadership speakers of our time. Described as a visionary thinker with a rare intellect, Sinek helps leaders and organisations around the world create an environment where people naturally work together to do remarkable things. He explores how leaders can inspire cooperation, trust and change.

“When the conditions in our organisations are right, we naturally trust each other and cooperate. But when leaders neglect the environment in which their people must work, politics, silos, cynicism and self-interest prevail; all things that make it even more difficult for us to work together. The best leaders know how to build those conditions and the best organisations are the ones in which the people work together to confront danger and seize opportunities.” Docker works closely with Sinek and is passionate about enabling others to be extraordinary. He engages with senior level leaders at several of the world’s largest organisations, and has developed an in-depth understanding of a wide range of industries. Sinek’s talk on ‘How Great Leaders Inspire Action’ has got more than 30 million views and sits at number three on the list of most popular TED talks of all time. The leadership forum included access to unique content, an implementation workshop and practical tools on how to influence positive change, increase employee engagement and grow key leadership competencies. “I derived a lot of value from this event and have several takeaways that I am keen to implement with my team. The hospitality was great and I look forward to more such events in the future”, said Mark Wagner from Pace Development Group. Key learnings shared by Sinek and Docker included:

• Start with Why – Every company, organization or group with the ability to inspire starts with a person or small group of people who were inspired to do something bigger than themselves. Everyone in an organisation knows what they do and how they do it. But very few know why they do it. Great leaders are able to provide clear answers for: What’s your purpose? What’s your cause? What’s your belief? Why does your organisation exist?
• Have clarity, discipline and consistency – Having clarity is what enables great leaders to articulate “Why” their organization exists beyond its products and services. They have the discipline to stay focused on the “Why” and are consistent in everything they do and say – from products and services, to the people they hire and the organisational culture.
• Leadership is not a rank – Simply having authority over people does not make a leader. There are people who have no authority, but are natural leaders. They become leaders by taking risks and choosing to sacrifice themselves for the sake of their vision and the people they lead.

If you would like to be invited to future blueAPACHE Insight Events, contact our events team.

Related

• emPOWER Consulting & Advisory (pillar hub)

Frequently asked questions

Who presented blueAPACHE's Insight Event described in this post, and who was it held in association with?

The post says blueAPACHE hosted the Insight Event in association with Veeam, with the day presented by leadership speakers Simon Sinek and Peter Docker.

What does Simon Sinek say happens when leaders neglect the working environment of their people?

Sinek is quoted saying that when leaders neglect the environment in which their people must work, politics, silos, cynicism and self-interest prevail, making it harder for people to work together, whereas the best leaders build conditions where people naturally trust and cooperate.

Who is Peter Docker, and what is his role described as in the post?

The post describes Peter Docker as someone who works closely with Sinek and is passionate about enabling others to be extraordinary, engaging with senior-level leaders at several of the world's largest organisations and developing an in-depth understanding of a wide range of industries.

How popular is Simon Sinek's TED talk referenced in this post?

The post says Sinek's talk on 'How Great Leaders Inspire Action' has more than 30 million views and sits at number three on the list of most popular TED talks of all time.

Who gave feedback on the event in this post, and what did they say?

Mark Wagner from Pace Development Group is quoted saying he derived a lot of value from the event, had several takeaways he was keen to implement with his team, and praised the hospitality.

What does the 'Start with Why' principle from this post say distinguishes great leaders?

The post says every inspiring company, organisation or group starts with someone who was inspired to do something bigger than themselves, and while everyone in an organisation knows what they do and how they do it, very few know why, so great leaders are the ones who can clearly answer their purpose, cause, belief and the reason their organisation exists.

What does the post say about clarity, discipline and consistency in leadership?

The post says clarity is what lets great leaders articulate why their organisation exists beyond its products and services, and that they have the discipline to stay focused on that Why and remain consistent in everything they do and say, from products and services to who they hire and the culture they build.

Does the post say formal authority is required to be a leader?

No. The post states leadership is not a rank, and that people with no formal authority can be natural leaders by taking risks and choosing to sacrifice themselves for the sake of their vision and the people they lead.

Source

• origin post (2017)

Knowledge Base