Questioning the 'Why': Is It Really Enough?

Melanie Bedggood | Transformational Leadership & Change Expert | CEO Growth Development

We have all heard it before: start with the 'why.' It has become almost gospel in leadership circles, popularised by Simon Sinek’s influential work. But what if I told you that the 'why'—the very thing we have been taught to rally around—might not be enough? What if there is something deeper, more foundational, that we as leaders must understand to truly achieve transformational outcomes?

Here is the thing, if you are leading a team or an organisation, it is not enough to simply identify and communicate your 'why.' While the 'why' is crucial, it is only the beginning of the journey. If you stop there, you risk missing the very essence of what unites people to create lasting, transformational change.

So, what is the missing piece? What lies beneath the surface of the 'why,' driving it forward, and ensuring it resonates deeply across your entire team or organisation? It is one of the 3 unity conditions our team of subject matter experts discovered in our extensive 5 year R&D period developing the SIMPLE. Transformation Method & SIMPLE. Leadership Knowledge Set. This condition is 'united meaning' and it is one of the most critical yet overlooked conditions a transformational leader must create. Without it, your 'why' is just a slogan— often seen as shallow and disconnected from reality by your people, a slogan that does not have the power to truly unite and transform.

But here is the catch: united meaning isn’t just about agreement; it is about aligning beliefs, the very truths that guide how we see the world. And that alignment doesn’t happen by accident—it requires deliberate, strategic action from you as a leader.

United Meaning and the 'Why'

Simon Sinek’s concept of the 'why' highlights the importance of understanding and communicating the core purpose that drives an individual or an organisation. Sinek argues that the most successful leaders and companies start with the 'why' before addressing the 'how' and 'what.' This 'why' serves as a central guiding belief, creating alignment and unity among people who share the same purpose. According to Sinek, companies that start with their 'why' outperform their peers by more than 300% in terms of innovation, trust, and customer loyalty. This underscores the importance of a united meaning as it can drastically influence the cohesion and success of a team or organisation.

Beyond the Why: The Role of 'Beliefs'

Yet more often then not, when faced with the complexities that is the people space of an organisation, particularly one that already has existing people related challenges, the 'why' can fall short of achieving such phenomenal outcomes. When we delve deeper into what drives our 'why,' we encounter the concept of 'beliefs' and this is where we encounter the understanding around what is is that actually drives our people. 'Beliefs' are essentially decisions we make about what is true, but these truths are subjective and can vary greatly among individuals. This subjectivity is why two people can hear the same message and perceive it differently, depending on their pre-existing beliefs.

Cognitive psychologists highlight a phenomenon known as 'confirmation bias' — the tendency to search for, interpret and remember information that confirms our pre-existing beliefs. This bias reinforces the decision we have made about what we consider to be true, making it challenging to change our perspectives even when faced with conflicting evidence.

For transformational leaders, understanding this psychological mechanism is crucial. It means that to create a united meaning within a team or organisation, leaders must consciously work to align beliefs. This requires addressing and reconciling different truths within the group, ensuring that the collective belief aligns with the organisation’s 'why.'

Creating a United Meaning Condition

To create the united meaning condition, transformational leaders need to do more than articulate a shared purpose; they must actively work to align the underlying beliefs that support this purpose. This process involves:

1. Facilitating discussions where team members can express their beliefs and perceptions safely, ensuring that any discrepancies are addressed.
2. Creating experiences that reinforce the collective belief, such as day to day implementation of supporting values, storytelling and shared successes.
3. Leaders must embody the collective belief in their actions and decisions, serving as a living example of the united meaning.

The Impact of United Meaning

When the united meaning condition is successfully created, it forms the foundation upon which all other leadership efforts are built. It transcends individual grievances and aligns the entire group toward a common goal. This alignment not only boosts morale and commitment but also enhances the overall effectiveness of the team or organisation, making transformational outcomes achievable.

In summary, creating the condition of united meaning within your team or organisation is not just about understanding your 'why' but also aligning the beliefs that underpin it. By fostering this alignment, you lay the groundwork for true transformational leadership, where every member of the collective sees the same fundamental truth and it wholly committed to work together to achieve it.

Call to Action

Want to learn directly from Transformational Leadership Expert Melanie Bedggood about all 3 unity conditions essential to transformational leadership? For the first and last time, Melanie will personally lead the Transformational Leadership 101 one-day certified course coming to a university near you in the North Island of New Zealand via Growth Development's University Tour in 2024 & 2025. This foundational transformation training unpacks the essential unity conditions transformational leaders must create. Don’t miss out, enrolment spots are limited and selling fast—this is your chance to gain invaluable insights and tools from the very person who has pioneered this approach. Visit the Transformational Leadership 101 University Tour page to find out more about the full course learning outcomes and secure your spot today.