The Power of Why

Why are we talking about this?

Engagement 102

Poeple do not leave companies. They leave managers.

Poeple want to work for something (a mission/purpose) or somebody.

The Cathedral

As leaders, we need to be able to answer two questions:

• What are we building/doing?
• Why does what we do matter?

Let's build a cathedral!

Reasons why people work

Weak reasons

• Money
• Work-life balance
• Having fun
• Learning something useful
• Waiting for the exit or the next better offer

Strong Reasons

• I believe in the purpose of the work
• I can explain why it matters to me
• I am growing by doing something difficult
• I get to work with people whose example teaches me something

Something or Someone

You either work for something or someone.

Something or Someone

You either care for something or someone.

How to make people care?

Ask Why!

Once a month, ask:

• Why do you do what you do?
• Why does it matter?

Possible answers:

• I do not know
• Because you told me to do it
• Because this matters to me

Connect the dots

Be prepared to explain:

• how the cathedral we are building looks like
• why this person's work matters
• why your work matters
• how their work helps other people succeed

Rinse and repeat

• Ask why
• Listen carefully
• Connect the dots
• Repeat every month

More Thoughts

Care comes in two shapes (I)

Care for:

• one person
• a group of people
• a team you lead
• a team you belong to

Care comes in two shapes (II)

Care about:

• a big idea/a small task
• a value/believe (e.g. trust, respect, camaraderie, …)

Choose

You need to choose who to care about and what to care about!

Nobody else can do this for you!

Belonging

Care creates belonging. Everyone wants to belong.

(Don't think that you do not want/need to belong)

Invitation

Wanna build this with me?

Wanna save this with me?

Questions?

Quotes

Motivation

Autonomy, Mastery and Purpose

– Dan Pink

The Element

Talent meets Passion and Purpose

– Sir Ken Robinson

Leadership

Leadership comes down to believing so strongly in the future you want that your enthusiasm, confidence, and drive in getting there infects those around you, and the reality of today transforms into that vision of tomorrow through shared work and sacrifice.

– Max Levchin

Leadership

Leadership is the ability to inspire others to deliver on shared objectives.

– Jeff Weimer

Meaning

The greatest task for any person is to find meaning in his or her life. There are three possible sources for meaning: in work, in love, and in courage during difficult times.

– Viktor Frankl

Why

He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.

– Friedrich Nietzsche

The Power of Why

• Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action