Inspired leadership

Did Apple’s Products Make Them a Success or Did Something Else?

Published on October 17, 2015February 14, 2016 by Janet

WHY-home Did you know as human beings we have a very basic and powerful need – the need TO BELONG.

We are more likely to trust and feel comfortable with those who believe what we believe.

We see them as “our kind of people”.

When we share values and beliefs with someone, we feel connected and safe.

For example have you ever been traveling and coincidentally met someone who comes from your home town? You somehow feel connected to them even though they’re a stranger.

Our need to belong is so strong that we even crave being involved with organisations that are like us and who share our beliefs.

If Apple had simply told us they were the best, fastest, greatest computer company would we have cared as much? No.

Is Apple successful just because they make great products?

No.

Their customers care so much because Apple tells us WHY they exist and what they believe.

Today people want authenticity. They want to know who you are and what you stand for.

They want to “feel” right about the decision to choose you and your products.

They don’t want to be manipulated or misled. They are tired of exaggerated claims.

We are drawn to leaders and organisations that tell us what they believe. It makes us feel safe and part of something worthwhile.

We feel inspired.

When an organisation tells us WHY they exist and what they believe, and we believe what they believe then we are more likely to go to great lengths to include those products and services in our lives.

Notice how Apple users feel a bond with each other. Notice how Harley Davidson riders feel a bond with each other.

If all you do is tell the world WHAT you sell i.e. your price, quality, service, technology, then you’re not differentiating yourself in any way from other businesses that offer the same thing.

There’s no opportunity to create a common bond.

When you express your WHY, you instantly create an environment for those who believe what you believe to feel great about you, to feel they have something in common with you, to bond with you.

To attract ideal customers you love to work with and who become loyal, raving fans who recommend you to their friends, you must share your WHY.

get-your-why-on

Live your WHY.

The WHY Movement is here.

Go here, and contact Janet here to WHY-ify your business.

References:
The WHY Engine – Ridgely Goldsborough, ESQ
Start with WHY – Simon Sinek

10 Major Reasons WHY-Inspired Leaders Inspire Their CUSTOMERS (Part 2)

Published on September 19, 2015February 14, 2016 by Janet

Are you a WHY-inspired leader of your CUSTOMERS?

Most business owners know 80% of their profits come from 20% of their customers.

What if you could inspire and attract the top 20%
that bring most of your profits?

(Part 1) 10 Major Reasons WHY-Inspired Leaders Have Inspired EMPLOYEES

How do WHY-inspired leaders attract great CUSTOMERS?

1. WHY inspired leaders are AUTHENTIC.

They know that today people want sincerity and authenticity.

Without knowing your WHY any attempt at authenticity will be inauthentic.

People want to know who you are first and what you stand for, only then will they be interested in WHAT you sell.

2. WHY inspired leaders lead with their WHY and enjoy lasting success.

Most businesses compete on price and convenience; they compete on features and benefits, and in no way differentiate themselves from anyone else. Customers feel confused.

WHY inspired leaders know that when they express who they are and what they believe, the customer who believes what they believe will start to feel comfortable and “feel” they may be the right choice for them.

3. WHY inspired leaders INSPIRE others, they build TRUST and LOYALTY.

There are two ways to lead and motivate – either through manipulation or inspiration.

WHY inspired leaders know that manipulation works but it costs a lot, is a short-term solution and does NOT create loyalty.

By contrast, to inspire means to “breathe life into…” People are drawn to leaders who communicate what they believe.

Customers feel special, bonded and safe. They will be loyal.

4. WHY inspired leaders do not try to cajole or convince anyone of anything.

Instead they invite a person to do business with someone who shares their belief system.

It is a gentle approach.

It is both delicate in its delivery and immensely powerful in its ability to attract the right customers and build their loyalty.

5. WHY inspired leaders can largely ignore their competition.

Being fiercely competitive in business can undermine success and cause irrational decision-making.

Inspired companies calmly and deliberately create and innovate from within.

When you know your WHY you don’t have to study your competitors.

Those who study and copy their competitors lose their WHY and become all about WHAT they sell.

6. WHY inspired leaders NURTURE the relationship at every stage of their customer’s journey.

They’re continually building the relationship.

They ensure their customers continue to know WHY they chose to do business with them.

Customers feel reassured, they feel good knowing they made the right decision.

7. WHY inspired leaders build a following of LOYAL customers.

When a business starts growing and gaining mass-market acceptance, the idea can become a strong movement.

Customers start depending on you offering other products and services because they want to buy more from you.

Premium pricing becomes not only a possibility but in many cases a preferred structure for some customers because they’re honoured to do business with you and happy to pay more for the best.

8. WHY inspired leaders have customers who tell others how happy they are.

get-your-why-on When you inspire your customers, they feel good telling others about you.

They’re able to verbalise why they think what you have is better
(versus a customer manipulated into the sale).

9. WHY inspired leaders can expand their business in unique ways.

When a business defines itself only by WHAT it does, they can only stick to their core business.

Who says all accounting firms have to offer the same products and services?

When you know and express your WHY you can create something fresh and different.

10. WHY inspired leaders can avoid the success trap.

When a business is small, the founder makes all the decisions with gut feeling and passion. As the business grows it becomes impossible for one person to make all the decisions. Others must then be trusted to make decisions and hire people.

That’s the danger-zone.

At that point your WHY goes fuzzy and will dilute if you do not know, live and express your WHY.

THE TEST IS… Could your business thrive if you took a year off?

Summary

Even if your innovation and quality is superior, there is more to a successful business.

WHY inspired leaders naturally differentiate themselves and their business, and they don’t have to convince anyone of their value.

WHY-inspired businesses are clearly different.

A business that clearly expresses WHY they do what they do can have a cult-like following as does Apple.

They succeed against many companies that would seem to be more qualified and they succeed in industries outside of their core business.

Start with WHY.
Live your WHY!

The WHY Movement is here.

Want to know more?

Go here, and contact Janet here to WHY-ify your team and business.

References:
The WHY Engine – Ridgely Goldsborough, ESQ
Start with WHY – Simon Sinek

10 Major Reasons WHY-Inspired Leaders Have Inspired EMPLOYEES (Part 1)

Published on September 6, 2015February 14, 2016 by Janet

Are you a WHY-inspired leader of your team?

What’s the difference between a leader who knows and lives their WHY and one who does not?

What does it mean to be a WHY-inspired leader of your team?

(Part 2) 10 Major Reasons WHY-inspired Leaders Inspire Their CUSTOMERS

1. WHY inspired leaders are AUTHENTIC.

They know and live their WHY. They know who they are and what they stand for. They are authentic, genuine and real.

When you start with WHY you do what you do, you inspire others.

Great leaders are able to inspire others into action. Great leaders have people following them not because they have to… but because they want to.

2. WHY inspired leaders lead through INSPIRATION not manipulation.

All great leaders have the ability to find good fits for the culture of their business – those who believe what they believe. Starting with WHY makes it easier to hire those passionate for what you believe.

Great leaders show their current team members how they fit into the culture of the business and in so doing inspire them to take up the cause. They encourage their people to do what they’re passionate about and to fully express who they truly are.

They do not motivate through manipulation i.e. bonuses and incentives because eventually that’s the only reason a person comes to work. Bonuses and incentives are rather used as a celebration.

3. WHY inspired leaders challenge the status quo.

Truly living your WHY and being authentic can mean challenging the status quo.

WHY inspired leaders are not afraid of doing that, they are decisive and lead by example.

They know it’s their job to advance the WHY of the company and that it inspires passion in the team members.

When you know your WHY you’re certain about what you believe and you’re motivated to live it.

4. WHY inspired leaders create a culture of TRUST.

They understand getting the right people in the right seat is only the beginning.

No-one likes to be told what to do. A dictatorial environment may get tasks accomplished but it does not build an inspired business where people are self-motivated and willing to improve. It creates low levels of trust.

People feel suppressed and frustrated. Mistrust weakens a business and creates self-serving, rebellious behaviour and people feel forced to take sides.

Great leaders focus on earning and keeping the trust of their employees.

Without trust people will show up to the job but worry only about themselves. Great leaders recognise trust is gained over time. They truly care about their employees’ dreams and hopes.

5. WHY inspired leaders ensure LONG-TERM growth by unifying their team.

They make sure everyone knows the WHY of the business, each person knows their own individual WHY, that they are valued and how they fit into the WHY of the organisation.

Everyone buys into the cause.

Team members start respecting each other and pulling together. Non-WHY inspired leaders look for the latest short-term quick fix and struggle to get their team working together.

6. WHY inspired leaders have ENGAGED, productive employees.

Disengagement is a common and very expensive issue. Such people are there only for the pay check, are there only for themselves and they undermine others.

Simply by knowing their WHY, feeling valued and understanding how essential they are to the business, people become inspired, passionate and engaged, coming in to work early and leaving late – not for the leader, but for themselves.

7. WHY inspired leaders EMPOWER their people.

They empower people by inspiring everyone in their business to take on personal leadership no matter what their rank. Employees are encouraged to make their own decisions and become accountable for the outcome.

They are willing to make decisions because they trust their leader and feel safe and protected.

8. WHY inspired leaders encourage employees to BETTER the company.

An employee who feels safe is willing to try something new and innovative in order to improve the business.

For that to happen a person needs to trust that the leader and company will look out for them. A strong sense of WHY creates a strong culture, a feeling of belonging and being protected.

9. WHY inspired leaders have employees who are able to weather HARD TIMES.

People with a clear sense of WHY are less likely to give up during hard times and can often see opportunity in those difficult times. They are resilient and come to work with a sense of purpose.

10. WHY inspired leaders create a HAPPY, productive environment.

They know happy employees produce more, work harder, have more fun, attract other happy employees and enthusiastically tell the world how happy they are at work.

They ensure their people are constantly reminded WHY the business exists and what it believes.

They know it’s not enough just to write it on the wall.

Summary

To inspire is to “breathe life into”.

To inspire others you have to know your WHY.

A great leader empowers each individual first and gives them a vision which enables them to fully express that power on behalf of the team.

In other words, you make it about them first and show them how valuable and essential they are, how their unique gift contributes to the business as a whole and how nothing meaningful can happen without them.

Then, and only then, will they align with your cause—they will see clearly how their beliefs and what they do fit perfectly in your business.

WHY-infused cultures are exciting, people feel motivated and successful, and it’s a place of trust.

Success is shared and celebrated.

You develop top talent and they want to stay because they believe what you believe.

WHY inspired leaders enjoy peace of mind because they have an inspired, growing business.

The WHY Movement is here.

Want to know more?

Go here, and contact Janet here to WHY-ify your team and business.

References:
The WHY Engine – Ridgely Goldsborough, ESQ
Start with WHY – Simon Sinek

Tag: Inspired leadership

Did Apple’s Products Make Them a Success or Did Something Else?

Related Reading:

10 Major Reasons WHY-Inspired Leaders Inspire Their CUSTOMERS (Part 2)

How do WHY-inspired leaders attract great CUSTOMERS?

1. WHY inspired leaders are AUTHENTIC.

2. WHY inspired leaders lead with their WHY and enjoy lasting success.

3. WHY inspired leaders INSPIRE others, they build TRUST and LOYALTY.

4. WHY inspired leaders do not try to cajole or convince anyone of anything.

5. WHY inspired leaders can largely ignore their competition.

6. WHY inspired leaders NURTURE the relationship at every stage of their customer’s journey.

7. WHY inspired leaders build a following of LOYAL customers.

8. WHY inspired leaders have customers who tell others how happy they are.

9. WHY inspired leaders can expand their business in unique ways.

10. WHY inspired leaders can avoid the success trap.

At that point your WHY goes fuzzy and will dilute if you do not know, live and express your WHY.

Summary

Related Reading:

10 Major Reasons WHY-Inspired Leaders Have Inspired EMPLOYEES (Part 1)

1. WHY inspired leaders are AUTHENTIC.

2. WHY inspired leaders lead through INSPIRATION not manipulation.

3. WHY inspired leaders challenge the status quo.

4. WHY inspired leaders create a culture of TRUST.

5. WHY inspired leaders ensure LONG-TERM growth by unifying their team.

6. WHY inspired leaders have ENGAGED, productive employees.

7. WHY inspired leaders EMPOWER their people.

8. WHY inspired leaders encourage employees to BETTER the company.

9. WHY inspired leaders have employees who are able to weather HARD TIMES.

10. WHY inspired leaders create a HAPPY, productive environment.

Summary

Related Reading:

Related Reading:

SHARE WITH OTHERS!

Like this:

How do WHY-inspired leaders attract great CUSTOMERS?

1. WHY inspired leaders are AUTHENTIC.

2. WHY inspired leaders lead with their WHY and enjoy lasting success.

3. WHY inspired leaders INSPIRE others, they build TRUST and LOYALTY.

4. WHY inspired leaders do not try to cajole or convince anyone of anything.

5. WHY inspired leaders can largely ignore their competition.

6. WHY inspired leaders NURTURE the relationship at every stage of their customer’s journey.

7. WHY inspired leaders build a following of LOYAL customers.

8. WHY inspired leaders have customers who tell others how happy they are.

9. WHY inspired leaders can expand their business in unique ways.

10. WHY inspired leaders can avoid the success trap.

At that point your WHY goes fuzzy and will dilute if you do not know, live and express your WHY.

Summary

Related Reading:

SHARE WITH OTHERS!

Like this:

1. WHY inspired leaders are AUTHENTIC.

2. WHY inspired leaders lead through INSPIRATION not manipulation.

3. WHY inspired leaders challenge the status quo.

4. WHY inspired leaders create a culture of TRUST.

5. WHY inspired leaders ensure LONG-TERM growth by unifying their team.

6. WHY inspired leaders have ENGAGED, productive employees.

7. WHY inspired leaders EMPOWER their people.

8. WHY inspired leaders encourage employees to BETTER the company.

9. WHY inspired leaders have employees who are able to weather HARD TIMES.

10. WHY inspired leaders create a HAPPY, productive environment.

Summary

Related Reading:

SHARE WITH OTHERS!

Like this: