Reading this book was different than other books I’ve read in the past. Some of the strengths I see in this book are the way the author illustrates his examples through stories. The author, Simon Sinek, starts with a story of Captain Mike Drowley, or Johnny Bravo, that catches your attention takes you through Johnny’s thought process and actions that led to saving 22 men’s lives. Sinek uses this to illustrate the lessons of empathy and how empathy plays into successful organizations. Just like how Johnny Bravo credits his success to his empathy so do noteworthy organizations. This plays into the the bigger theme of the book, safety.
Sinek suggest that successful organizations and great leaders place more value on human values such as selflessness and safety. This recurring theme of safety is present in a quote that struck me and that still makes me think. “Leaders want to feel safe too. No matter what place we occupy in the pecking order, every single one of us wants to feel like we are valued by the others in the group.” (Sinek, 2014, p. 30) Sinek was referring to the Circle of Safety and how when those are within the Circle, they has a positive effect on the organization. Sinek ends this chapter and asking the question how safe we feel in our organization (Sinek, 2014). I think this is a question that needs to be asked. Whether in a leadership position or now, how does our safety play into our work and interactions as work. I think Sinek raises a good point that if someone is acting outside their norm and it is effecting their productivity or outcomes, maybe we shouldn’t be scolding them but instead asking about their well being. This applies to everyone in an organization.
Sinek also speaks about leaders that lack the empathy needed to be successful. He talks about the all to common trend of lack of empathy in the business world today and how we do have smart executives, but that doesn’t make them strong leaders. He quotes Bob Chapman, CEO of Barry-Wehmiller, “No one wakes up in the morning to go to work with the hope that someone will manage us. We wake up in the morning and go to work with the hope that someone will lead us.” (Sinek, 2014, p. 118-119) I find this quote very accurate and inspirational when looking at my own abilities. I don’t want to be a manager. I want to be a leader that cares about my team and inspires them.
While this book was very informative and I appreciated the examples used to illustrate ideas and points, I do find the book as a whole a little disconnected. Each chapter was very well put together and easily conveyed the author’s thoughts, but the chapters themselves seemed detached. I felt like the different parts of the book could have been organized better in a way that connected and transitioned better as you read. When you go back and summarize each other the 8 sections, it’s clearer to understand the point of each section and the flow of the book but reflecting back after reading it without the summarization, I found it a little scattered.
