As children, we constantly asked the rather inquisitive question to our parents; 'but why mummy?'
We wanted to understand why things, situations or people were the way they were. It was a natural fundamental need to help us understand the ways of the world.
After a while my exasperated mummy would respond 'Because, I said so!'
..'oh, ok..hmmn..'
Whilst I may have learnt to just accept certain things, I still want to know why I do the things I do and of course I'm not alone. We all want to know why.
I watched the following talk on TED recently and it made me think about why people, leaders and organisations are successful and inspiring.
Why do people never get Sunday night blues or dread getting up to go to work in the morning?
Probably because they believe in what they are doing, because they know why they are doing it.
Simon Sinek, in what he says is the world's simplest idea, states that successful and inspiring leaders and companies are those, who not only explain the standard what they do and how they do it, they show more fundamentally, why the do it - they provide a purpose.
Apple is a company he cites as one, that at its core, promotes the why proposition beautifully. The why bit is all about challenging the status quo. The how bit is by designing lovely, aesthetically pleasing computers, phones etc The what they do, is make and sell technology devices.
Leaders and organisations who provide people with a purpose, as to why they are doing what they are doing, are those who inspire and attract employees who will work for more than just the pay cheque. They work with a passion because they believe in what they are doing.
Give me your employer brand, give me your values but tell me why we are we doing what we are doing?
I'm Irish, we naturally want to be part of some cause or other, but that trait aside, based on my own career experiences, being part of something for a reason and believing in why I do what I do and who I do it for, is where it's at and why I get up in the morning.
To be sure.
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