The Leadership Edge: How Knowing Your “Why” Transforms Your Impact

While on a recent vacation, I reread Simon Sinek’s book, Start With Why. I found the review very useful and beneficial as it caused me to reflect on my personal and professional “why.” I then considered if they are aligned and how I apply them to lead, serve, and interact with those in my family, personal network, and business community. The self-assessment was good, and I was able to say, “Yes, I am interacting with everyone based on these principles.”

S-Curve Model

Here’s what it also did: it made me apply my S-curve model of drop/keep/add to my life. Many of you have heard me talk about the S-curve and the importance of bringing it into your coaching or training sessions to help you assess if you are operating from your why. It helps you eliminate those attitudes, behaviours, and actions that undermine or deflect you from succeeding with authenticity and integrity. It also helps keep those that honour and advance them. If you’re curious about my S-curve concept, I invite you to watch this quick and insightful video where I break it all down—don’t miss the chance to dive in and discover something game-changing!

Knowing your “why” is crucial for effective leadership because it provides a clear sense of purpose and direction. When you understand why you do what you do—your deeper motivations and values—it becomes easier to inspire and motivate others. Here are a few key reasons why it’s important.

Why Knowing Your “Why” Is Crucial

1. Alignment: Your “why” aligns your actions with your core values, beliefs, and behaviours. This authenticity helps build trust and credibility among your team because they see consistency between your words and actions.
2. Inspiration: A leader’s strong sense of purpose and principles inspires others to rally around a common cause. When people believe in the “why,” they are more likely to be committed, engaged, and passionate about their work.
3. Decision Making: Knowing your “why” helps in making important “fork in the road” choices, such as go/no-go decisions that are aligned with your long-term goals and values. It provides a framework for prioritizing tasks and allocating resources effectively.
4. Resilience: During challenging times, knowing your “why” gives you and your team the resilience to persevere. It reinforces the importance of your mission and helps navigate obstacles with greater determination. It’s the equivalent of dropping an anchor to keep you in place when storms and the pressure of leading come upon you and your organization.
5. Communication: Your “why” serves as a powerful tool for communication, both internally with your team and externally with stakeholders. It helps articulate your vision, core values, and operating principles clearly and persuasively.

In essence, understanding your “why” isn’t just about personal clarity; it’s about creating a compelling narrative that guides your leadership and inspires others to join you on the journey toward achieving meaningful goals. What’s your “why” in your leadership journey?

Here’s Simon’s TED Talk you can watch as a refresher.