Leadership can be defined as so many different things! What is your personal definition of Leadership? Please share so followers can understand your personal definition and add to the vast knowledge of leadership. Also, how do you personally feel communication functions inside of the leadership continuum?

Values Congruence

http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action.html

This is an amazing example of a major leadership practice that is used on college campuses and organizations everyday. The speaker, Simon Sinek, gave a presentation on TED talks about “Starting with Why.” The presentation, listed above in the link, is inspiring, influential and impactful. The key principles he states all have to do with his theory of staring with why. The why behind what an organizations stands for, the why of what we personally believe and live for, this why is the key to leadership. This theory states that people do not buy what you sell, they actually buy what you are representing in your final product. “People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.” Simon Sinek states many times throughout his presentation. This is extremely relevant information and explains how people process information and how leaders are able to influence follows. To be a great leader you must have dedicated follows who believe in the same guiding core values that you or your organization believes.  After viewing this video I have thought of a few action steps in order to incorporate the theories of “Starting with Why” into your daily leadership activities;

 

 

 

 

• Reevaluate your personal values.
• What drives you? What is your inner passion?
• Reevaluate your organizational value.
• Why does XYZ organization exist? What are you trying to achieve? What values does your organization hold?

• Express this to others
• Explain this follows, customers, employees, colleagues, and more...
• Stay consistent
• Make sure that people know and identify with your values and beliefs. Publish mission statements, values and policies for the public to see and consume.
• Create an end product that is in line with these values
• Make sure you “practice what you preach” in all your products and communications.
• Revaluate often
• Make sure you are always staying true and that you are making necessary changes and using feedback regularly. 

I recommend signing up for Simon Sinek’s daily newsletter called “Notes to Inspire.” This handy little daily email, sent directly to your message box, has a one liner inspiration quote in this topic area. Everyday I open my email inbox and these daily notes help keep me motivated, on task and remembering my core values. The website link is listed here: http://www.startwithwhy.com/About.aspx  and the link at the top right hand corner of the page is the sign up. It is a small sticky note icon that reads “notes to inspire.”

In closing remember always start with WHY.