Thursday's Leadership Insight: The Leadership Core Part II, What is Your Why as a Leader?

Self-leadership is the foundation of all effective leadership. Leadership development is a continual inside-outside journey, starting with the Core first. Tim Elmore says in The Eight Paradoxes of Great Leadership: Embracing the Conflicting Demands of Today's Workplace?that leaders must be timeless and timely. Thomas Jefferson noted this paradox early in our country's development, saying leaders in matters of style could go with the flow but, in matters of principle, stand like a rock:" The Core of leadership is that rock made up of a leader's Values, Purpose or Why, Motive and Mindset. This Thursday's leadership insight article is part two of a four-part series on the leadership core. This newsletter article asks a deceptively simple yet difficult question. That question is, what is your "WHY" for being a leader? This article describes your why and the benefits of discovering, clarifying, and acting on your why for you, those you lead, and the organization you lead. A five-step practical plan to review and clarify one's leadership Why is shared.

Know Your Why, Share Your Why, and Act on Your Why to provide a clear connection, engagement, and learning with energy moving forward.

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What is meant by Your "Why"?

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Understanding, clarity, and acting on your "why" is crucial for effective leadership. This concept, popularized by leadership experts such as Simon Sinek, Michael Jr., and John Maxwell, emphasizes the importance of purpose in guiding leaders and inspiring those they lead.

Finding your "why" involves identifying the core purpose that drives you as a leader. Leadership expert Simon Sinek, in his groundbreaking books, Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action and Find Your Why: A Practical Guide for Discovering Purpose for You and Your Team?and renowned Ted Talk How great leaders inspire action defines the Why as "Your "Why" is?a statement of purpose that describes why you do the work you do and why you live your lifestyle. It is your calling. It is your conviction. It is your mission statement." Sinek describes this as the "golden circle," where the "why" is at the center, driving the "how" and "what" of your actions. He states, "People don't buy what you do; they buy why you do it." John C. Maxwell tells a story that exemplifies this point. "Maxwell recounts a story about a man who came across three bricklayers busy at work. The man asked the first bricklayer what he was doing. "I'm laying bricks," the worker replied. He then asked the second bricklayer the same question. "I'm putting up a wall," he said. The passerby then asked the question one more time, this time to the third bricklayer. The response:? "I'm building a cathedral to worship my God."

Comedian Michael Jr provides a powerful example of knowing and acting in your Why, which will be a topic of his presentation today at the Global Leadership Summit. Click here to view this powerful example clarifying your purpose and how it energizes you and those you lead—Michael JR When you know Your Why. Watch it three times to enhance your understanding of the power of this video clip. Watch it once, concentrating on the Comedian Michael Jr.Watch it again, focusing on the Music teacher signing. Third, watch it again, focusing on how the audience is affected during the video clip. Leadership expert and best-selling author Michael Hyatt writes, "When you know your why, you know your way. The? most impactful statement of the power of the why was shared by the Late author Victor Frankl in his book Man's Search for Meaning. Frankl survived the horrors of years in a Nazi Concentration camp during World War II. He credited much of his survival to understanding that he chose to could act according to his purpose. He wrote, "When you know your Why, You can endure any How."

In a 2023 LinkedIn article, Discovering Your Why: The Key to Purposeful Leadership, Cedric Boue writes, "Leading with purpose means that you have a clear understanding of what drives you, motivates you, and gives you meaning in your leadership role. It is essential because having a strong sense of purpose helps you make better decisions, be more resilient, and positively impact those around you. He cites Simon Sinek, author of Start with Why, who wrote, "People don't buy what you do; they buy why you do it." Knowing and acting in your why is what sets you apart as a leader and connects you to others in a meaningful way. When you lead purposefully, you are more likely to inspire, influence, and motivate others. You also have a clear understanding of what you stand for and what you won't tolerate, which makes it easier to make tough decisions. Leading in their Why or Purpose benefits the leader, all they serve and lead, and beyond in seven ways.

"When you know you're Why, you know your way."

Michael Hyatt

1. Clarity and focus: Knowing your "why" provides clarity and direction. It helps you stay focused on your core values and goals, making it easier to make decisions and set priorities.

2. Motivation and resilience: Your "why" is a powerful motivator, especially during challenging times. It helps you stay committed and resilient, driving you to overcome obstacles and persist in your efforts. Sinek notes that leaders who act on their "why" inspire others to follow them, creating a ripple effect of motivation and commitment.

3. Authenticity and trust: A leader acting in alignment with their "why" fosters authenticity and builds trust with their team. When leaders are transparent about their purpose, it creates a sense of trust and loyalty among their followers. Michael Jr. emphasizes that knowing your "why" allows you to connect deeply with others, enhancing your influence and impact.

"People don't buy what you sell. They buy Why you sell it.'

Simon Sinek

4. Enhanced performance and innovation

?Purpose-driven leadership leads to higher levels of performance and innovation. Oliver Morgan in an article for Morghan Latif. How to Define Your Purpose as a Leader writes More than ever before, leadership must be guided by purpose. Why? Because purpose-driven leaders inspire stronger performance from their teams, which has a marked impact on their organisations. Numerous studies have revealed striking and wide-ranging benefits.?

5. Purpose-oriented companies enjoy 30% higher levels of innovation and 40% higher workforce retention than their rivals, according to research from?Deloitte. Furthermore, a study from?DDI, The Conference Board, and EY?discovered that leaders who work in organisations with a defined purpose statement are twice as likely to derive meaning from their work and report 60% higher energy levels.

1. Positive Organizational Culture: Leaders who are clear on and act on their "Why" contribute to a positive and cohesive organizational culture. They create a shared sense of purpose that unites the team, fostering collaboration and teamwork. This, in turn, leads to higher levels of employee satisfaction and retention. . Having read so far, it would seem "a blinding flash of the obvious "that all leaders would want to discover, clarify, and act in alignment with their Why. The truth reports ?Morgan in his article is the opposite. He writes, "Given all of this, it is concerning that less than one-fifth of leaders say they have a strong sense of their?individual purpose. This data, when included with the data that 83% of organizations believe they desperately need intentional leadership development programs as cited by DDI, yet only 5% do, can be discouraging. It can also be a starting point. This is a part of the reason why John Maxwell says that looking at today's leaders' reports; he is a "leadersad."

Below is a practical five-step ?plan to define, clarify, and act in your Why as a leader

1. Self-Reflection: Take time to reflect on your values, passions, and experiences. Consider what drives you and what impact you want to have.

2. Seek Feedback: Ask trusted colleagues, coaches, or mentors who will be brutally honest with you for feedback on your strengths and what they see as your unique contributions.

3. Create a "Why" Statement:

Give Yourself a timeout! Find a quiet time and space. Reflect on your experiences, beliefs, worldview, and passions to make a difference.

Simon Sinek in Find Your Why(2017) provides an easy exercise to start the process of discovering or refining clarity on your Why.

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Complete the Why? statement below,

My Why is? TO_( my activity)_________________

So That__( my contribution)____________________

Seek out a colleague or a leadership coach to work with who shares your commitment to focusing and clarity about your "Why "and will be honest with you.

Review your Why statement with each other for clarity and honesty. You may end up rewriting it until you feel good about it and Your colleague or a leadership coach agrees this is you. Review it daily for a week and meet with your colleague or a leadership coach again to review the process and refine your statement as needed. Post your Why statement in a visible place to see daily and let it guide decisions. Commit to reviewing the statement periodically.

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4.? ?Commit to acting in Your "Why": Align your actions and decisions with your "Why." Communicate your purpose to your team and lead by example.

5. Review and refine your "Why "periodically. This practice will help a leader maintain focus and movement.

In conclusion, finding and acting on your "why" is a transformative practice for leaders. It brings clarity, motivation, and authenticity to one's leadership practice, benefiting both them and your organization. A leader who acts in their Why shows purpose-driven leadership is not just a philosophy but a practical approach that leads to meaningful and lasting impact benefiting the leader and all they serve

The Leadership Questions for you are;

. What is your Why in your leadership practice?

2. Do you act in your Why as a leader?

3. Can you implement the action steps above to discover ,refine or clarify your Why and ensure your leadership practices align with your Why?

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