Inspiring Video

While on Twitter tonight, I can across a tweet by David Culberhouse (@DCulberhouse on Twitter) to Chris Wejr (@ChrisWejr on Twitter). David was recommending Chris watch a video by Simon Sinek (@simonsinek on Twitter).  It was a recent talk that Simon had given at Creative Mornings, a monthly breakfast lecture series. Each event is free and includes a 20 minute talk by some amazing speakers, including this one by Simon Sinek.

There are many thoughts and comments made by Simon that really caught my attention.  His talk is about people and the way people are cared for by each other, and by people who are their bosses. In turn, he talks about what inspires people to do the things they do. In hopes to inspire you to watch this wonderful video, and to do really make a difference with those around you, I would like to share a few important ideas by Simon about leadership.

“If you have someone who reports to you or works for you, your responsibility is not to make them meet the deadline. Your responsibility is not to make sure they do as you say. Your responsibility is to make sure that they understand their own strengths, their own value, and that they are way, way more talented than they think they are.”

“The only way they will learn that is if you put them in situations in which they can fail and you hold them and you support them and you give them talent and you give them skills and you give them education and you watch their backs and if they fall over you encourage them to get back up and if they fall over again you encourage them to get back up until they figure it out themselves. It’s called confidence. It’s your responsibility to help others find it. And it’s other people’s responsibility to help you find yours.”

“And the amazing this is, as soon as you start to feel confident in your own ability, you naturally help each other. That’s what happens. It’s called trust.”

“If you take little risks … start doing little things for each other … Other people will start doing little things as well.”

“Little things: hold the door open for someone, say thank you to someone who holds a door open for you, smile at the barista … hit the open at the elevator. …  Do it.  A little time and a little energy and you’ll find around work people will give a little time and a little energy back to you.”

“Do things for others and watch what others do for you.”

As leaders in education, we can take this advice and have it really impact the way our teachers and students feel about school and their work.  Just imagine how we would all feel if we went to work (or school) in such an environment. Imagine how much harder we would work. Imagine how much more effort we would put in. Imagine.  It is possible. This is possible.

This not only relates to our life at work, it relates to our every day life. It relates to our family life. Our life with friends. Our life with strangers. Imagine how good you would feel doing something small for someone each day (or more often, if you have the opportunity).  Imagine the world in which we would live. Imagine what it would be like.

Let’s commit to start small, and as Simon says, let’s “Do it”.

Watching this video by Simon Sinek this evening was one of the reasons I downloaded his book, Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action tonight. I can’t wait to read more of his thoughts, his ideas, and suggestions of how to make this all happen.

What is one small thing you can do for someone today? Tomorrow?