Why, how and what? By Thompson Rayner (12.11.2010)

Every person and organization on the planet knows what they do. Some know how they do it, but very few know WHY they do what they do. By WHY, we mean why does your organization exist at the first place? or Why do you get out of bed every morning?. Most individuals and companies are focused on the WHAT, i.e., what service they are providing, and not the WHY, i.e., why are they in business.

The Sinek’s Golden Circle Model

The Golden Circle of Simon Sinek begins with the why on the inside of the circle, moves to the how, and ends with the what. Apple, Inc. believes that they are here to challenge the status quo and to think differently (the WHY), using innovation and revolutionary thinking (HOW) in order to create the greatest technological products on the market (WHAT). Most companies create the what first. They create a great product first, then we as a consumer are supposed to buy it. As Sinek says, people who wear a Harley-Davidson tattoo emblazoned on their arm do not do so for the WHAT, i.e., not because Harleys ride that much better. They instead subscribe to the WHY, i.e., the lifestyle, the philosophy, the perspective celebrated by Harley-Davidson.

It is so obvious that in any person’s or organization’s life, everything seems goes right. However, as elaborated by Roshan Thiran on the Sinek’s golden circle model (the combination of WHY, HOW and WHAT) justified that, the process to learn your WHY is about going back and examining these times to find out what the patterns were so that they can be repeated. This is the reason learning WHY is always a process of discovery, not invention. Whether an individual or an organization, a WHY comes from the same place: the past. For individuals it is the sum total of a person’s upbringing and experiences. For organizations, it is born out of the very reason or purpose the organization was founded. In accomplishing the WHY, HOW are the ways, which is the value system, processes and structures, infrastructures, the talent in our organization and the eco-system created to support the WHY and finally, the WHAT which is the tangible ways in how we bring the WHY to reality.

Conclusion

The purpose, cause or belief is the WHY which driving motivation for action. The HOW are the specific actions that are taken to realize your WHY and the WHAT are the tangible ways in which you bring your WHY to life. Understanding and practicing “inside-out” instead of “outside-in” principle of Sinek golden circle model somehow will differentiate between successful and loosing individual or organization.

Reference

1. http://biz.Thestar.com.my/news

2. http://www.startwithwhy.com/What/TheBook.aspx