Most Leaders Don't Even Know the Game They're In | Simon Sinek
Trust and cooperation are not standard in our organizations and yet we know they should be. There are two attributes that every single leader has the opportunity to possess that will help them create the types of organizations we would be proud to call our own. Those two attributes are EMPATHY & PERSPECTIVE.
This is the full keynote from John C. Maxell's Live2Lead event in Atlanta, Georgia, October 7, 2016.
+ + +
Simon is an unshakable optimist who believes in a bright future and our ability to build it together. Described as “a visionary thinker with a rare intellect,” Simon teaches leaders and organizations how to inspire people. With a bold goal to help build a world in which the vast majority of people wake up every single day feeling inspired, feel safe at work, and feel fulfilled at the end of the day, Simon is leading a movement to inspire people to do the things that inspire them. Simon is the author of multiple best-selling books including Start With Why, Leaders Eat Last, Together is Better, and Find Your Why. His new book, The Infinite Game, will be released in 2019.
Simon’s WHY: To inspire people to do the things that inspire them so that, together, each of us can change our world for the better.
+ + +
Website: simonsinek.com/
Instagram: / simonsinek
Linkedin: / simonsinek
Twitter: / simonsinek
Facebook: / simonsinek
Simon’s books:
The Infinite Game: simonsinek.com/product/the-in...
Start With Why: simonsinek.com/product/start-...
Find Your Why: simonsinek.com/product/find-y...
Leaders Eat Last: simonsinek.com/product/leader...
Together is Better: simonsinek.com/product/togeth...
Want to bring the lessons from The Infinite Game into your organization? We're doing the work for you! Check out my new on-demand leadership training for teams, The Infinite Game Book Club! simonsinek.com/product/on-demand-courses-optimism-book-club-infinite-game/
You should cold call CVS. I worked for them for 20 years from 16 years old and the culture there got more in line with what you're maligning here with every acquisition they made. I ended as a store manager in Baltimore, DC and eventually Delmarva beaches
Not for CVS sake, but their employees' sake
why didnt you just use ur own phone??
Yes
Simon, I think it would be beneficial if you speak at school districts for the parents to better understand the electronics/video games. It’s a HUGE problem in elementary schools.
Simon Sinek = Talks about complex things in a most simple possible way and blows my mind away. Top work.
Sometimes when my friends and me are out in a bar we make this "phone pile". And the one picking up his phone first...because addiction kicks in...has to pay the entire check for the evening. Boom, instant conversation for the whole evening.
At a bar Feeding your narrative your addiction to food everyday is nesecarry. While you are a clone human that is impossible to have 1800 of you across the globe if you are a living being
Imagine if there's an emergency and everyone is hesitating to pick up the phone to call the police, lol
After "phone pile", I honestly thought this was going to be "...and then we pick a random phone and go through it." I also like the one it was though :)
Friends would be nice
@@birdsass yea I feel that
Simon, you're a great teacher and speaker! Bravo.
1. Learn from other Leaders 2. Work to build Skills 3. Believe that you are a Leader 4. Take up more Tasks 5. Share your Ideas 6. Listen to Others 7. Learn how to Delegate 8. Treat other Leaders with Respect 9. Know that there are many different types of Leaders
For those who lost the meaning of the letters Simon introduces around the 10min. mark: P: Parenting T: Technology I: Impatience E: Environment
Thats Great, i remember we had a young lad working for us and he was always late, i remember my boss at the time, tearing him apart, and the boss asking me what to do about this lad, if he should fire him, etc. i said just ask him why hes late. it turned out he was looking after his younger sister, taking her to school making her breakfast, because his mum was really poorly, so the empathy thing is so true he changed his hours and the young lads performance increased dramatically
I've got a lot of respect for the leader that takes the time to gather the facts and really try and understand someone before passing judgement. Some great points in this video. Thanks Simon.
On the flip side, I am often in late to work or having to take time off giving short notice and I manage this by being transparent about my caring role so that I can communicate my needs and allow my team to fully understand me.
Sometimes it's the little things... so just a win/win situation with a small question
@@SefalisYoga How do u do that without coming off as someone who has a excuse or reason for everything? Someone that cant be counted on or someone who is irresponsible.
@@CainCapital by delivering what's asked instead of working to a clock, I suspect.
I Can watch these speeches over and over again. SO much valuable information and stuff to reflect on for a very long time. THANK you Simon!
Same here... ☺
I particularly like the part about looking at the lack of trust in organisations, it is so true! Simon's comments on the lack of training in empathy and perspective being key to the reasons for this lack of trust is spot on. It would be great if companies invested in leadership skills as much as they invest in training people for the technical jobs they used to do. Good Video :)
Me too
Agreed 100% and what makes it so valuable is that it is absolutely relatable because it just gets to who we are as human beings on a very simple and basic level (random science facts help too) :)
Yes I watching note10 times
This is one of the channels that gave me the courage to start my KZhead channel 8 months ago about self development. Now I have 775 subs and > 300 hours of watch time. I know it’s not comparable with others but I’m still proud I started because I’ve been learning so many lessons that I could haven’t learned without getting started in the 1st place.
Simon Sinek = 50% motivational + 50% emotional. Superb... Keep up your good work.
One of the greatest speakers I have ever seen, and so many great points. More people need to see this.
I've recently been promoted and have become a team leader, I'm trying my best to make sure I can be the best leader I can be. This video is a massive help. The example about holding a phone, or having it on the desk while I speak to my team hit hard. It will now remain in my bag or pocket. Great video!
How's it going? I just became a manager for the first time.
Its v imp to reflect back after every 2 weeks or monthly on your social contract with the team you are leading, because it can easily vanish and you start doing exactly the same as every other manager in the org to meet the deadlines...
Nothing wrong with having a phone on desk as long as you don't fiddle with it when you should be focusing on the other person in your vicinity.
Team leader - Do you have the same responsibilities as your teammates? Do you have the authority to give them what they need should they ask (the actual authority, not the responsibility to ask someone else who may or may not have authority)? Are you at least getting paid more?
Do whatever you can for your team. Facilitate and be the best helper you can. Roll your sleeves up and do the shitty parts of the job. They'll respect you and they'll go the extra mile for you if they know you'll do the same. I've been running multimillion dollar restaurants and I'm telling you leading a team with empathy and consideration is 90% of my success. Best of luck.
This guys has a way with words, every single bit get into your heart. A big inspiration.
@simonsinek “You work hard everyday to stay in Love!” That’s very powerful, thanks for sharing your wisdom.
This guy is incredible. I simply love the way he is teaching what true leadership is all about👍🏻👍🏻
Mr Sinek is giving me goosebumps with this speech! "Those who play the infinite game understand it is not about the battle, it's about the war." So true!
Playing the infinite game can be transfered 1 to 1 from the business context to our daily life. Don't compare to your competition, i.e. other people. Focus on yourself, every day. Focus on yourself being a little bit better than you were yesterday. And in the end you will be ahead more often than a person comparing all the time, trying to be the best every day of his life. You will be happier.
We need more learned, witty, funny and responsible individuals like him in our society.
absolutely brilliant. Love the story about the worker at Four Seasons vs Caesar’s Palace. Its the culture and the conditions of the workplace that create a passionate, spirited worker. Most people who make it to an interview for a job have the qualifications and tangible experience to do the job, but the environment makes them appear poorer.
I think it's good to understand that perspective, but to also know that people do indeed have different levels of ability. Noah might perform at 8 at Four Seasons vs 1 at Caesar's, but Billy performs at 8 at Four Seasons and 7 at Ceasar's. The employee and the environment both are an important factor.
What's both scary and fascinating with Sinek's inputs is that he explains bascially how human relationships *should* normally work...
Ironically for Microsoft, Bill Gates says "Your competition is only you and you shouldn't try to compare yourself to anyone else, if you do, you are insulting yourself"
Your Speech is completely change the way i watch the world today. very amazing! and thank you so much for your work.
His leadership talks are truly empowering and insightful. Makes you think again.
So spot on. How have l missed Simon all of these years!?
God I Love You. Thank you for your Speech...
Amazing way of explaining and addressing about the current generation, parenting and leadership. Awesome, congrats!
This is what I needed as a young man growing up to lead the next generation. Thank you, Simon
This talk is so full of golden quotes! ❤
I’m a millennial and used to listen to Simon and read for Seth Godin and the other inspiring change makers in 2010 and 2011. I’d worked in many places where I got support and training till I perfected my job. I flourish and have positive attitude towards leadership and positive influence because of these environments. But one place did the opposite for me. I’m not afraid of asking for help or support or sharing experiences , but when I did, I was seen as “unqualified,” and my errors were being counted. I got upset at first because the workplace should be safer, but didn’t care much because I knew how to reach external sources until one day I was assigned to do a number or projects at once but they couldn’t be done without internal support and validation. I soon withdrew from these projects because we couldn’t accomplish any progress and we were blocked many times and it’s exhausting for me and my team. It didn’t end here, there were “punishments threats” and hearsay that I was unqualified for leadership. I didn’t care that much 😁 because I’ve been able to lead bigger teams, make mistakes, learn and achieve more than the desired objectives. I’m an infinite game player, they were, and still, the opposite. My point is: here, in this talk, Simon was right, and still, about the millennials. It’s still not easy for me not to go with the flow, and I can see how my peers are still struggling in workplaces.
@@eternalscholar8259 yeah, one realizes that this is not “work” or “leadership” This something about their attitudes and personalities. I hope you’re better now.
Leaders must be close enough to relate to others, but far enough ahead to motivate them
@@CareerGrowthHub433 well said 👏
you're a millennial? wow
This Talk is SO Timeless! I have passed it on to every one of my Colleagues.
I am thankful that I grew up without phones because I can set mine aside for hours or even days without having the typical withdrawals and discomfort that people who started using phones in their childhood.
So much truth and so much passion. Amazing work Simon. Grateful for this video
Genius, especially after min. 30:00. Compete only against yourself! True both for business and personal development. 💪🏻
Lol. U human. Clones an your backstory of tv addiction
I don't know whether Simon reads these comments, but I hope he does. I was going through a tough time where I felt like I was being trampled over by people who were just better or successful in their lives versus me who could barely keep up. I knew I wanted to be an ambitious leader but I didn't want my ego to win over me. I didn't want to become a horse in an animal race, but wanted to know how I could serve or how I could unite people towards a common purpose. I sincerely want to thank you for your message and your efforts in building a better world. I came across your video and was reignited the lesson of empathy that all should possess. You have NO IDEA how much you helped me. Thank you! 😊
Rajat Bhattacharjee you go bro!! Support!
Thank you for the amazing lecture. I always learn from your teachings. You are very wise.
Okay, this video just changed my life and my entire approach to everything I do. I hope I can stick to it... guess I'll have to keep re-watching and re-reading everything this man creates.
Careful about falling into obsessive patterns. Better is, to write your own journal, and reflect, from day to day, about what you learn since you discovered this talk. And keep this journal active. Your mind will appreciate it.
So insanely spot on and simple changes we all can make TODAY... so what's holding us back?
This is brilliant. Simon Sinek sure scored a home run here. It's like he has decoded the basics of human hipocrisy. It's so satisfying to watch him dismantle professional cynicism and teach fair techniques to present-day executives.
You just explained how I left my last job not knowing why I was fired to now, being absolutely ok with being fired!
Me too, I gave notice at my first full-time job... after 8 months this month :D
This is so impactful
Simon Sinek, infinitely amazing! So grateful for this brilliant and inspiring human being!
Leadership, Empathy, perspective, and the infinite game all rolled into one presentation. My very favorite of all Simon's talks as it touches on all concepts.
This was priceless, it open my mind about leadership
You are literally the wisest and most humble person I have ever had the pleasure of listeting. Right after one speech I quit drinking and started working more with my business. Thank YOU.
Do not compare yourself to who someone else is today, but rather to who you were yesterday
Simply brilliant in its clarity and delivery!
Very absorbing observations. We see it everyday but fail to realise, adults learn from children, Managers learn from workers, unless they have a boss who plays the finite game. Spot on.
I just recently told my colleagues about your golden circle. They now want to implement it in the classroom and adapt it to our feedback model when giving feedback to students in the classroom. Awesome stuff Simon!
6:56 "It's the Leadership! ... It's not the People."
Simon Sinek is a fantastic speaker. All of his videos are gold 🏆
The speech, the content, and the presentation were absolutely marvellous; thank you, Simon, for sharing!
Love this. This should Be a college course or even better a high school course.
You actually have to have a graduate degree to teach College and High School, something this conman marketer doesn't have.
@@alexcaminiti Name calling is immature, if you have a rational argument then state it. If someone's a conman then why wouldn't you disprove him? Helping other people not worth your time?
@@alexcaminiti these days a title is almost worstless, a bad investment because a degree doesn't garantice you education
@@TheVeganButcherguarantee 😂
I’ve been preaching this x 20yrs+. I’m a Gen X’er. Interesting how NOW people are listening more.
People/clones never stopped listening to tv/radio/false fabricated nonexistant history media methods. What planet did they clone u on where they did? How. Do. You listen more if your puppet masters shortened your life span according to. Your backstory?
Love this guy. Common sense in a world increasingly becoming more insane
This made my tears fall..as i totally agree. Most of the high- profile companies nowadays, especially on its leadership teams forget about the word, EMPATHY. I wished for many can watch this short talk.
As always, brilliant. Empathy is something we often overlook...yet we expect (hope, wish, pray) others to extend it to us freely. Awareness is key. Thank you for the reminder Mr. Sinek.
I listen to him talk in my room and spontaneously clap for him to the hearing of my neighbours who were surprised. His teachings are great and timing.
Simon's you are one of the best motivational speaker.Cheer up! Keep accelerating on your work ladder .
An excellent talk as always! Lots of good things in this talk to reflect upon especially the two leadership traits that define a true leader. Grateful as always for these deep insights!
Right on! Building this for small business has always been a passion of ours, it starts with vulnerability!
Amazing how he communicates with us.
legend, love listening to this gentleman, over and over again. never get tired of it. The infinite game, always.
i think this is one of the amazing thing any person would want to hear.
How can I not like your speech! Truly inspiring.
The segment on millenials 8:24 is such an eye opener! and so SPOT ON ! I've been wracking my brains on how to get them to engage in simple communication and idea sharing. I think I have to keep showing up and showing up in their circle so they begin to trust that they can safely collaborate, brain storm ideas from the ridiculous to the sublime, and to not take every request as a life and death urgent matter. This is going to be FUN! Thank you Simon!!
RE: "This is going to be FUN!" I love your perspective. You know, you're right, of course. Thanks for reminding me why I get such a kick out of tossing around ideas with those younger than me. My initial aim is at providing a safe place for their vulnerability to give them permission to speak. And to ask questions. And to feel good. And to LAUGH out loud, for goodness sakes!?
“ You got a C at school… your put up for adoption” cracked me up 😅 Also great speech 👏
This is great Simon, thanks for sharing this. So good! 💯
One of the best orators of our time!
The company I work for knows their what, How and Why. It is taken on a culture from our CEO down to Team Leads. I love my job like Noah loves his job. I would love to meet Simon one of these days. I am so inspired and pass along the message all the time and have read all the books. Keep up the great work Simon as you state there should be no demand for your work but unfortunately there is and hope all companies get on the bus for the ride and treat their employee how the employees treat their customers.
it’s totally a new experience everytime I listen to him again and again. Sometimes i just lose my track to have a good leadership
I love the immediate statement of Leaders should take care of the people that are in their charge. Being in an office with a 28 year old millennial I am feeling the age crunch. She doesn't know how to bond with me on a personal level. I am leaving this job because of her and her Lack of her Managerial qualities. I took her job. Etc. But now I am moving on to find a happier work atmosphere.
ABSOLUTELY 🤝🤝🤝 Thank you Simon!
Simon is amazing. I can truly say I love my JOB!
One thing that is important to remember is that the dopamine response that you get from phones and technology comes from online social settings, like social media and email and games. Not allowing your kid to use a phone or the internet is NOT the answer. The ability to learn skills and have information at your fingertips is incredibly valuable. It is much better to push your kids to learn a new hobby through KZhead videos or to do some research on a topic that interests them. You also can't just cut a millennial off with their cellphones now, either. You do this hoping for them to be more social with other people in person, but now they are the odd one out that no one can get in contact with because they can't text that everyone should meet at this place or this time. Getting rid of phones is not the answer. Changing the people who use them, and helping them to learn new practices and have new coping mechanisms is. Teach millennial not to keep their phones out when they are with others. Help them learn to use social media in the most minimal way possible, as a way to communicate only. Show them ways that they can use technology for more productive uses, and give them good reason to do so. Unless all millennial stop using phones, taking a phone away from one doesn't do anything but isolate and alienate them.
I appreciate your comment. We didn't want our 15 year old son to have a smart phone because all we saw was the damage it seemed to cause with older siblings and his peers, and we didn't want that for him. During a discussion he gave me some profound insight that I hadn't considered. He basically explained that just like in my day I spoke on the phone, everyone connects over social media. Kids rarely even text anymore, which, once he said that, I realized he was right. My reaction was to say something like ,"Well, maybe you should. You are all losing touch with each other." I didn't' say that and as he went on to say, "This is how we communicate now. This is how our friendships work now. And I'm just always left out from things because no one can communicate with me." A huge wave of understanding came over me. My mother used to get so frustrated about the amount of time I spent on the phone talking with friends. I remember being cut off from the phone for extended periods simply because she didn't want me on it. His explanation and my experience helped me realize that this really is a different age. I think part of me keeps waiting for things to "go back to how it was". It isn't going to. We did, shortly after this conversation, allow him a phone. We set rules as best as we could and occasionally tweek them, but I have sensed we are lacking something. When I read your comment I was enlightened. I am beginning to see how we can do more than compromise with our son; we can actually help him to use this phone as an amazing tool AND for him to have the engagement he needs in the new-age form I dislike. Reflecting that communication has changed and changed and changed over many centuries gives me hope that my son and other children will be okay, and that I can help guide them in this seemingly extreme change in communication.
I can see Caesars demanding that the managers "do better" without ever asking them what they need to "do better."
Fantastic! You've done it again with another brilliantly insightful and useful talk. Thank you Simon.
You are the best in describing the real leadership roles!!! I learn lot of things from your speech which I will use to groom myself and others... Thank you!
the comparison with firing children when firing employees nearly made me spit out my coffee
Brilliant! Thank you for rolling it all up into such a meaningful and insightful talk.
One of the best speech ever i heard....after heared what u said i want to compete with myself everyday
Simon is amazing. U need to watch his Start With Why TedTalk. It's what made him blow up. That talk straight changed my life. I stopped doing things just bc and really answered what I wanted w anything I do. Thanks Simon! 👌
@@zerocal76 thanks bro
You only one can't heard before you're amazing leadership
„It‘s not the people, it is the leadership.“ How true!!! I wish all leaders are aware of this. Thankfully, in all my years of employment, I was treated like a slave, an expense in only one of the companies I worked for and I think about my previous bosses more and what they thought me.
You're not in charge, you're responsible for those in your charge. Exactly, and it takes continual practice.
2022, this still hit hard!
Duh
Amazing, I just love it. ❤
Amazing Simon Sinek, is an excellent speaker.
24:05 Yes this!
1k dislikes, I can't believe that many people did not like this. This was great!!!!
That's an insane number. It's ok though, he's giving a huge positive impact to those people who like it or not, he gives out great information.
Thank you for being able to say what I'm thinking most days
It really unsettled me sometimes when people laughed. It's often a point that has a punchline like a joke, but really is so so so serious it makes me emotional how much of a problem he is presenting.
Ok. Fair point. Consider when Simon compares addiction to cellphones and social media to addiction to alcohol at 13:58 Everyone's laughs when he says it's like throwing open the liquor cabinet and saying, "Why don't you try the vodka. It will get you through these hard times." Simon doesn't stop there just addressing a problem. He continues with a suggested solution that is different from the status quo. He illustrates that we show respect to others in our presence by putting the phones away. He does it with more entertaining quips and one liners. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Simon suggests a different course of action that is common sense and he presents it with humor. People laugh because the situation is omnipresent and relatable.
Such valuable information is shared in this video. A worthwhile watch if you are a new leader or an experienced one. The learning should never stop!
OUTSTANDING. SPOT ON. I am a 30+ year veteran of high tech, having built the majority of my "success" on taking care of the people on the teams I always felt privileged to lead. Everything Simon said about empathy and perspective - completely resonates with my experience (I currently work for a less than Fortune 10). Thank you for this talk - it really helps me understand how to care for the millennial - including - how to interact differently with my own millennial children. "You're not in charge - you're responsible for those IN your charge". Beautifully stated.
kids it seems to me only mirror the choices that "adults" provide.
Most kids I find will take advantage of a natural power vacuum when there is no one willing to step-up and give direction no matter how poorly prepared for the task they are.
As the population grows, the age gap is widening day by day and number of people below the age of 25 is far greater than the number of people above the age of 50. This is resulting in the 'power vacuum' like you mentioned.
Beautiful your spoke like a true God you just gave them the greatest knowledge ever brother I love you.
I love this. He was brutally honest in this. Later, he got more vague about the names of the hotel. 😊
Amazing speech. I am speechless. Thank you so much!
Legendary as usual🙌🏼
Wow...Simon Sinek ....A great leader must have EMPATHY AND A GREAT PERSPECTIVE TO LIFE
What a rich clip!Thank you Simon,I have never left your video without a new perspective.
Omg. Everyone who signs a paycheck should watch this!!
I could spend hours upon hours listening to this man talk
Simon Sinek strikes again!!!! First it was the: Why, how, what video, which is unforgettable and now this. Infinite vs the finite game. Lovely.