Leadership, Organizations, and Inspiration

“Inspired leaders and the inspired organizations — regardless of their size, regardless of their industry — all think, act and communicate from the inside out.” Simon Sinek/TEDxPuget Sound

Early in his talk, Sinek says, “The goal is not just to sell to people who need what you have; the goal is to sell to people who believe what you believe. The goal is not just to hire people who need a job; it’s to hire people who believe what you believe…I always say that, you know, if you hire people just because they can do a job, they’ll work for your money, but if they believe what you believe, they’ll work for you with blood and sweat and tears.”

Sinek observes, “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it. If you talk about what you believe, you will attract those who believe what you believe.” He goes on to share, “Leaders hold a position of power or authority, but those who lead inspire us. Whether they’re individuals or organizations, we follow those who lead, not because we have to, but because we want to.”

During his talk, Sinek states that passionate belief is the core inspirational aspect of these interactions. At Bards Consulting, while we acknowledge belief is important to inspiring leaders and organizations, we find that other elements are equally important. For instance, belief must be stated in a clear vision; this vision must also offer a story. It is ultimately people’s capacity to become a part of that story that drives them to buy into or become involved in your belief. They have to fit – they must fill a role in the story. It goes beyond the belief or vision of the leader and becomes a shared story.

For example, Patagonia is not just a company that believes in the environment. It is a company that invites its customers and employees to be a part of their belief in quality and in the value of the environment. As the customer wears the best gear and uses the best outdoor equipment, Patagonia’s concepts mix with the customer’s experience of their own story. For the employee, Patagonia provides the opportunity to do things like spending time tagging eagles; the company’s story is now the employee’s story.

We would suggest these shared stories are far stronger than just a common belief, leading to a stronger inspiration for motivation.