(TED) Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action

Sinek's main idea of his speech is simple: 'people don't buy what you do but they buy why you do it.' It may sound like a business lesson on the effective way of marketing at glance but for me it was a life lesson on how people can powerfully persuade people without actually saying those persuasive words.

The effective way of communication. 
Listening to his speech, I couldn't help thinking about the way I speak and realized that I do exactly backwards from what Sinek suggests, especially when I get angry and really want to carry my point: I start with "what" is wrong and "what" makes me feel uncomfortable and then move to "how" the other person can improve or change the situation in my perspective. I don't even mention or try to pay attention to think of "why" it is important for me unless I feel it is necessary to make the other person agree on my ideas. If I had watched this video earlier, I would have changed my communication style to start with "why" I see it is important to make a change at this point and "why" it would be beneficial to everyone else. Then I would say "how" I can achieve the goals and values I think important and as a result make the other person naturally understand "what" I ask to change is right ideas. So, the key to attract those who believe what you believe is to talk about what you believe first!

EH


Inspiring and Persuasive
https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action/transcript?language=en#t-407216

Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action

According to Simon Sinek, the fundamental difference between the "Apples" of the world and everyone else is that they start with "why."
What does that even mean? To explain this concept, Sinek has developed what he calls the "Golden Circle," image pictured right. The golden circle has three layers:

1. Why - This is the core belief of the business. It's why the business exists.
2. How - This is how the business fulfills that core belief.
3. What - This is what the company does to fulfill that core belief.

Sounds simple, but what Sinek found is that most companies do their marketing backwards. They start with their "what" and then move to "how" they do it. Most of these companies neglect to even mention why they do what they do. More alarmingly, many of them don't even know why they do what they do!
Not Apple. Apple starts with "why." It is the core of their marketing and the driving force behind their business operations. To help illustrate this point, imagine if Apple also started backwards by creating a marketing message that started with "what."

"We make great computers. They're user friendly, beautifully designed, and easy to use. Want to buy one?"

While these facts are true, I'm not sold. We instead want to know why they are great and user friendly. Turns out Apple has figured this out over the years and knows better. Here's what a real marketing message from Apple might actually look like:

"With everything we do, we aim to challenge the status quo. We aim to think differently. Our products are user friendly, beautifully designed, and easy to use. We just happen to make great computers. Want to buy one?"

See how different that feels? Because Apple starts with "why" when defining their company, they are able to attract customers who share their fundamental beliefs. As Sinek puts it, "People don't buy what you do. They buy why you do it." Starting with "why" makes Apple more than just a computer company selling features, and that's why their products have flourished while their competitors' products with similar technology and capabilities have often flopped.
But enough about Apple. Simon Sinek's "Start With Why" philosophy isn't just about billion dollar businesses. It also has implications for inbound marketers in any sized business. Let's take a look at some of the key marketing takeaways from the "Start With Why" philosophy.

3 Key Takeaways for Inbound Marketers

1. Step Back and Use "Why" to Think About Your Own Business

Do you know your company's "why"? (Hint: It's not to make money). Think about the core purpose of your business, and then think about how you market your products or services. Are they aligned? As Sinek has found, having loyal customers is all about attracting the people who share your fundamental beliefs. Remember: People don't buy what you do. They buy why you do it.
Yes, this might seem obvious, but it's a critical step that is often overlooked. If you were (or are) the founder of your business, wouldn't you want the people marketing it to know why you started it in the first place? Understanding "why" is essential to knowing how to communicate "how" and "what" you do.

2. Incorporate "Why" into Your Marketing Copy

The idea of starting with "why" is also a copy writing best practice. The next time you're writing an email, a blog post, or a landing page, start your writing with "why." You see, "why" explains the underlying value of what you're promoting. Consider these two opening sentences to a hypothetical email:

"Check out our new ebook, 7 Ways to Generate Leads with Social Media. We’ll show you the seven most effective ways to use social media to generate leads for your business."

Or...

"In the past decade, social media has become a very powerful tool for businesses. More and more businesses are adopting social media strategies to fuel their lead generation. In our new ebook, we’ll show you the seven most effective ways to use social media for your business. Check out 7 Ways to Generate Leads with Social Media."

What we've found is that the second type of email copy leads to a significantly higher click-through rate. Communicating the value (aka the "why") right off the bat sparks the reader's intrigue, at which point all you need to do is close the deal with the details (how and what).

3. Redefine your Buyer Personas

I'll say it again: People don't buy what you do. They buy why you do it.
With that mind, think about your buyer personas for a moment. Are they based purely on target demographics and assumed characteristics? Are they the kinds of people who might share your core values? What is it that drives your buyer personas to buy your products and remain loyal over a long period of time?
If you don't know the answers to these questions, it's ok! You don’t necessarily have to scrap your buyer personas and start over. Just add more context to who they are and how they identify with your "why." Doing so will get you to start thinking about the internal motivation that goes behind their purchase decisions. Perhaps you are a small business with large competitors and your customers are loyal to you because they like to support the little guy. Maybe you’re making the world a better place, and your customers love you because they believe in your cause. Whatever the reason, redefining your buyer personas to match your "why" is critical in creating marketing that inspires them to continue advocating for you.

Get Started. See What Happens.

Now that you have a good understanding of Simon Sinek’s “Start with Why” philosophy, go out and give it a try. Write a blog post that explains what your company believes in. Maybe track a few keywords that could uncover people who share your beliefs. Then get on social media to spread your cause. You’d be surprised to see how supportive your leads and customers alike will be. When someone believes in your "why," they're more than a lead or customer; they're an evangelist.
How are you going to use your company's "why" to improve your business? Share in the comments!

https://blog.hubspot.com/customers/3-takeaways-from-start-with-why