While leaders may be different in their style and approach, what all leaders have in common is their ability to inspire others. Not only do these individuals lead teams and organizations by example, but they also behave humbly by fostering a level of trust and mutual respect amongst those they work with and meet. And although we aren’t all born as natural leaders, the purpose of some individuals is to help others develop into successful leaders through their guidance and practices –one of who is Simon Sinek. Keep reading to learn more about who Simon Sinek is and what he can teach you about leadership.
Who is Simon Sinek?
Simon Sinek began his successful career working in advertising before launching his own company, Sinek Partners. Since then, he has become globally known for his admirable TED Talk presentation on the concept of ‘why’ from 2009, which has since been viewed more than 40 million times in 47 different languages. In addition, Simon is the author of several best-selling books on leadership, teamwork, and discovering your purpose, with millions of copies sold worldwide. Moreover, Simon Sinek also serves as a motivational speaker, presenting at conferences and other events.
What Books did Simon Sinek Write?
Furthermore, while Simon has published numerous best-selling books worldwide, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorites we think are worth leading. Let’s take a closer look at some of these diverse titles below.
1. Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
The first book on our list is “Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action.” This book provides valuable insight into how all successful, inspirational leaders in history are similar in how they think, act, and communicate differently than others. Further, it features a strategic framework that can help individuals and organizations grow and succeed by emphasizing the importance of discovering their inner purpose.
2. Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together, and Others Don’t
The next book on our list by Simon Sinek is “Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together, and Others Don’t.” This book will explore the negative cultural aspects that many businesses foster, including cynicism and self-interest, and why these characteristics ultimately cause them to fail. In addition, it also features a collection of stories, examples, and guidance on how to use integrity and humility to achieve success in your organization.
3. Together is Better: A Little Book of Inspiration
Furthermore, “Together is Better: A Little Book of Inspiration” is written in the form of a children’s book. However, it outlines concepts of reliability, dependence on your team, and other essential leadership practices that can help you develop into an individual who leads with integrity and purpose. Moreover, unlike Simon’s other books, “Together is Better” is the perfect read for on the go. It is easy to digest while still having loads of inspirational insight.
4. The Infinite Game
Last on our list of favorite books by Simon Sinek is “The Infinite Game.” This book outlines the game of business –an infinite game where winners and losers do not exist, only those who are and aren’t left behind. With this concept in mind, readers are provided with guidance on how to embrace a mindset that is infinite so they can build more prosperous, resilient, and inspirational businesses against adversity.
Simon Sinek Quotes
Moreover, now that you have a better understanding of who Simon Sinek is within the business and leadership industry let’s take a look at some of his most motivational quotes to feel inspired as a leader or in your general life. Tell us which quote below is your favorite and why in the comment section!
- “Leadership requires two things: A vision of the world that does not yet exist and the ability to communicate it.”
- “Dream big. Start small. But most of all, start.”
- “Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress: Working hard for something we love is called passion.”
- “If you have the opportunity to do amazing things in your life, I strongly encourage you to invite someone to join you.”
- “Great companies don’t hire skilled people and motivate them; they hire already motivated people and inspire them.
- “There are many ways to motivate people to do things, but loyalty comes from the ability to inspire them.”
- “We are drawn to leaders and organizations that are good at communicating what they believe.”
- “A team is not a group of people who work together. A team is a group of people who trust each other.”
- “The cost of leadership is self-interest.”
- “If you want to feel happy, do something for yourself. If you want to feel fulfilled, do something for someone else.”
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3 Of Simon Sinek’s Greatest Lessons
Moreover, now that you understand more about who Simon Sinek is, along with some of his most cherished publications in leadership, it’s only fair that we provide you with a list of some of his greatest lessons to finish off the article. Let’s take a closer look at some of these lessons below.
1. Discover your why and refer back to it often.
No journey to success is easy. Nor is it a straightened path. You will likely face challenges and failures that discourage you from completing your goals. Therefore, before you start, get clear on why you want to achieve your goals. And in times of despair, refer back to these reasons to remind you why you need to remain resilient in the face of adversity.
2. To be a good leader, you must be willing to listen.
To inspire others with your words and actions, you must first be willing to listen. Genuine leaders often take a step back and silence themselves, only asking questions when they need to. By doing so, you can take not of what your team needs and how you will fulfill those needs.
3. Leaders must create a safe space for employees.
Lastly, it’s no surprise that mistakes happen in business. However, how you choose to handle errors demonstrates who you are as a leader. Therefore, to lead successfully, you must create a safe space for employees to admit their wrongdoings without judgment to feel confident speaking up. In addition, this also provides other incentives to help each other out without fear to create trust within your team.
