Comparing Sinek's The Leadership Challenge And Start With Why

As the Historian of Phi Beta Lambda, I’ve became interested in the numerous styles of leadership. Peter Drucker said “Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.” Upon reading the two books, The Leadership Challenge and Start With Why, I have gained insight on the leadership styles. The Leadership Challenge broke down how leaders should be and components of leadership. Start with Why explained leadership and gave me a clear understanding of the bigger picture in why things are done. I will compare and contrast the different leadership styles stated in each book and provide my own summary of the material I have learned.

Simon Sinek’s has various viewpoints on leadership that he stated throughout his book. A viewpoint

Without a clear sense of why we do what we do, we will start will an unclear cause and begin to focus on the wrong things. “A clear sense of why sets expectations (Sinek, 2009, p. 147).” Once the why is stated and understood you now have a goal and set of expectations to meet. Sinek says that no matter what changes are made in our lives our why will always remain the same. There was an example of a boy named Jeff Sumpter getting an internship at a bank where his mother worked and after graduating he called the bank for a part time job. The bank then in time offered him a full time position at the bank, starting his career as a banker. Years later Sumpters then started his own bank with a colleague. Sumpter was one of the top performing loan officers in his career and was loved and well respected by his colleagues. Sumpter was good at what he did, but he did not have a passion for it. He explained that it is not what he does that gets him out of his bed every morning; it is why he does it. Sumpter got out of bed every morning to inspire people to do things that inspire them.

Another viewpoint that I noticed was that great leaders can see what most people can’t see at some moments. “They are good at giving us things we would never think of asking for (Sinek, 2009, p. 60).” There will be times when you may not be sure exactly what you are looking for or trying to say and a great leader will

From the book I learned a lot of new interesting facts about leadership. The book not only relates to businesses, but it also relates to life in general. Simon Sinek was attempting to get the reader to not only start with why, but to understand their why in life. He was attempting to get people to understand why they do things and the importance of knowing why. When you start with why decisions become easier in life. Also, I agree with Simon Sinek saying that in order to be a great leader you have to understand the Golden Circle. Having a full understanding you will know where to start as a leader. The Golden Circle explains why we do what we do. As Sinek has been saying throughout the book you have to start with the why for everything. When you are being consistent in how, why, and what you are doing people will believe you easier. When customers don’t know why they don’t believe in the product the customer is selling. When their why is understood they have a better following and their customers can follow. If you don’t know what you're talking about how will others. Sinek was attempting to get people to have clarity while explaining their