Simon Sinek’s thought-provoking book “Start with Why” questions received wisdom in the fields of leadership and business. The basic idea of the book is straightforward but profound: People don’t purchase what you do; they buy why you do it.

Golden Circle

The Golden Circle is a theory presented by Simon Sinek that has three layers: What, How, and Why. The majority of businesses begin outside the circle (What) and work their way inside (Why). On the other hand, Sinek contends that the most inspiring and prosperous companies start with why.

The term “why” describes the motivation, cause, or idea that drives your actions. The particular steps done to fulfill the Why are represented by the How. What you do or generate, to put it another way, is the outcome of those acts. Author gave an real-world example in his famous TedTalk explaining the mechanism behind it.

The power of Why

The “Why” is not about making money—that’s a result. The “Why” is a purpose, cause, or belief. It’s the very reason your organization exists. When you define your Why, you provide a clear answer to the questions: Why does your organization exist? Why do you get out of bed in the morning? And why should anyone care?

Why is a great place to start since it sets the stage for everything that comes after. It functions as a filter and a guiding principle for making judgments. When given a decision, it’s usually easy to choose the option that best fits your Why.

The Why and Human Behavior

The limbic system, the area of the brain that regulates action and judgment, is another source of Why’s power. This area of the brain reacts to emotions and sensations rather than words. Hence, you are communicating directly to the area of the brain that regulates behavior when you share your Why. That’s why messages that begin with “Why” have the power to motivate and inspire us to take action.

Additionally, beginning with Why fosters loyalty and confidence. You gain trust when you communicate your vision clearly and behave in a way that is consistent with it. Genuine and consistent in their ideas, leaders and organizations attract people. Brands that demonstrate that they are not just in it for the money and have goals beyond it win their loyalty.

The Why and Innovation

And last, the question of why inspires innovation. Teams are empowered to discover fresh and creative methods to further the organization’s mission when they have a clear understanding of why it exists. They are contributing to a cause they believe in rather than merely carrying out procedures or directives.

Team members are more inclined to think creatively when they comprehend and embrace the Why. They are working to further a cause they are passionate about, not just to complete a task assigned to them. Having a purpose in life can spark creativity and produce original ideas that might not have occurred to the person otherwise.

Conclusions

In summary, the power of Why lies in its capacity to lead, inspire, foster trust, and stimulate creativity. It’s not only a nice-to-have; every organization that hopes to succeed over the long term and motivate others has to have it. According to Sinek, “working hard for something we love is called passion; working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress.” We can discover that passion by beginning with Why.