Analysis Of How Great Leaders Inspire Actions By Simon Sinek

In this video Sinek describes his simple yet very successful theory that explains how great leaders and businesses alike have been able to succeed, inspire, and change the world. In the video Simon Sinek claims that people follow and become inspired by others not because of their actions and what they do but instead because of why they do these actions and what they are driven by. Sinek uses many different strategies to get his point across. One of the strategies is rhetorical questions. Sinek opens his speech and transitions through the points of his argument by utilizing rhetorical questions. With these questions he engages his audience and opens them up to the ideas they are about to hear before giving them away. He slowly draws his audience in while he maps out the points he is about to address and allows his speech to flow well instead of scattered. His next strategy is repetition (with a clear, simple point). Throughout the piece he paraphrases his main argument with his “golden circle” and the phrase “people don’t buy what you do they buy why you do it.” Even without the repetition of these two claims the audience can still easily remember it and they are good “umbrella ideas” that focus on all parts of his argument. Furthermore, these ideas are being repeated over and over again, mainly at the closing of a new thought. This reminds his audience of what the most important focus is and how his examples tie in with the support this focus while also being to the point.

Sinek also uses scientific data as a strategy. He uses the structure of the brain and later the Law of Diffusion of Innovation. He explains these two pieces of data well so that his audience will understand them and backs up his claim logically. Even if the examples he gives do make sense, the data he uses later to back it up expands his credibility and helps us understand why this is true. It builds a strong foundation for his primary argument. Simon uses narrative and examples, they are simple but very strong stories and examples that are crucial in backing up his argument. When he compares the example the Apple commercial that does not follow his theory with the one that does it clearly shows the contrast between the two. This example in particular shows how powerful the use of his model is and is the one that really draws the audience into what he is saying and why his model works he expertly chooses narratives that include well known tech companies, Martin Luther King, and the Wright Brothers since he knows that his audience knows these companies and the people well they don’t know how they have achieved success compared to others. Sinek also uses an excited tone in his speech the audience can tell that Simon is very passionate about his topic and truly believes in what he is saying and why he wants to spread these ideas. His gestures and emphasis with key words highlights his excitement and he allows himself to get list in his ideas and truly connect with his audience as if he were in a normal conversation with them. He adds suspense through the use of phrases “here’s the best part” and the rhetorical questions that keep the audience wanting to learn more.

The main audience for this video are educated young adults and older. With the use of simple language and the thorough explantation of data Sinek allows his audience to be broad, but in order for them to fully grasp the concept of this video, his audience must be educated enough to know about Martin Luther King and the Wright Brothers and have knowledge about Apple and be up to date on technology. They must be older since most children cannot fully grasp the concept of inspiration and understand the importance of it. More specifically, his audience consists of entrepreneurs and people who want to inspire and lead. Sinek’s purpose is to show the audience of the importance of “why”. He wants his readers to think about why they are doing something instead of what they are doing or how they are doing it. By doing this they will become more successful in almost everything they do and maybe even become inspiring leaders themselves.

This model is not only applicable in the business world that can also be applicable in real life situations. I know it sounds cliche, but almost everything we do affects our everyday lives and a lot of times we don’t think about why we do them. We could save so much time and efforts on things that don’t matter and use it on things that help our cause and accomplish out goals in life if we just ask “why.” Lastly, the way Sinek speaks and how he uses simple rhetorical strategies to get his point across. In most TED talks I find myself bored at some point because the speaker is droning on and on about scientific dada. Sinek uses examples that bring his theory to life and the way he talks and presents himself is so natural and exciting.