In reflecting Simon Sinek's video I realize that targeting the heart is essential to any successful change effort. Traditionally, we have focused on cognitive reasoning, assuming that if people are presented with facts, they will naturally act on them. However, as Simon Sinek (2009) and Dr. John Kotter (2011) emphasize, emotions drive people more than logic. Sinek’s message of starting with why underscores the importance of engaging people's emotional connection to the purpose behind the change, while Kotter highlights that without urgency, no matter how well-structured the rationale for change is, it will likely fail.
Targeting the mind alone often results in disengaged participants who may understand the facts but lack the emotional drive to take action. We traditionally target the mind, giving facts or sale prices, perhaps because logic and rational thinking are highly valued in educational and professional settings, while the emotional aspects are sometimes seen as secondary or even irrational. However, personal decisions and intrinsic motivation are tied closely to our emotions, which ultimately guide behavior. As Tom Asacker explains in his TEDx talk, even though people may watch TED Talks and understand the logic behind a message, they often don’t change because the emotional connection hasn’t been established (Asacker, 2014).
Answering the why in any change effort is crucial because it taps into the intrinsic motivations of those involved. People need to feel connected to the purpose of the change in order to fully commit to it. When the why resonates emotionally, it creates a sense of urgency, as John Kotter explains, and motivates people to take immediate action (Kotter, 2002).
This video, and much of Simon Sinek's work, has been the source of great personal inspiration in my life. If all of us (business professionals, teachers, and even students) have a strong understanding of why we are doing something, we have a greater understanding/purpose for what we are doing.
Harapnick (2023) states, “We must recognize that human flourishing is not a mechanical process; it's an organic process. And you cannot predict the outcome of human development. All you can do, like a farmer, is create the conditions under which they will begin to flourish.” In teaching, we can only create the conditions for learning; if we are lucky, we get to see the learning come to fruition. As teacher we never get to see the outcome of our efforts. But if we are lucky we get a glimpse into what a difference we can make.
In my case, it happened one typical day in my third year of teaching that a student who had gotten a full football scholarship that I had my first year of teaching was in town for fall break and saying hi to some of his high school teachers. Sometime during his visit, he quickly popped in my doorway and simply said, “Mr. K, even though I got a full ride, I still had to pick a major, and I chose graphic design.” Then, as quickly as he appeared, he was gone. It dawned on me that I had planted a seed that would significantly impact this young man's life.
Starting with your why can also give students a big-picture view of how all the daily tasks and lessons can add up to having the skills to be well-prepared for college and a career. It is the glue that binds everything we do together to create our “character” or our “values.”
In sum, these insights will significantly impact how I develop my innovation plan. I will now focus not only on explaining what the change is and how it will work, but also on clearly communicating why this change is essential for our students and how it aligns with their personal values, aspirations, and needs. This will allow me to connect with stakeholders on a deeper, more emotional level, inspiring them to engage fully in the change process.
References
Asacker, T. (2014). Why TED Talks don't change people's behaviors: Tom Asacker at
TEDxCambridge 2014 [Video]. TEDxCambridge. https://youtu.be/W0jTZ-GP0N4
Harapnuik, D.; Thibodeaux, T. (2023) COVA: Inspire Learning Through Choice,
Ownership, Voice and Authentic Experiences. (p. 26) Learner’s Mindset Publishing.
Kotter, J. (2011). The heart of change [Video]. TEDx. https://youtu.be/1NKti9MyAAw
Sinek, S. (2009). Start with why -- how great leaders inspire action [Video]. TED.
Kommentarer