Rooted.to Start with Why (pt. 2)

Written By Sonja Schappert

“It all starts from the inside out. It all starts with Why” Simon Sinek

I geek out over a good theory of change.  I like nothing more than to tear out a piece of notebook paper or start scribbling on a napkin when I’m meeting with someone and start doodling their words into a logic model.  

But I always start with the end of the model.  The impact.  

Because, that.is.the.Why. 

Why, How, and What, correspond to our organization’s Vision, Mission, and Values

Vision, Mission, and Values are mapped to your Impact, Outcomes and Outputs.

And Impact, Outcomes and Outputs are mapped to your Activities, Resources, and Context.  

But we start with Why.  We start with Vision.  We start with Impact. 

Actual notes from a client consultation

Part 2 reflection Questions

Chapter 3: The Golden Circle

“When a WHY goes fuzzy, it becomes much more difficult to maintain the growth, loyalty, and inspiration that helped drive the original success.”

  1. Start with your why.  Why did you start doing what you are doing in the first place?  Why did you join this organization?  Why are you motivated to get up every morning and give it your all?

Chapter 4: This is Not Opinion, this is Biology

“...when we communicate from the inside out, we’re talking directly to the part of the brain that controls decision making…”

  1.  Draw the golden circle.  Now describe your organization and chart it on the golden circle.  Pay attention to what’s easy to describe and what’s more of a challenge.  Are you able to articulate your why?

  2. What are we investing our time resources and energy into?

Chapter 5:  Clarity, Discipline and Consistency

“It’s the discipline to never veer from your cause, to hold yourself accountable to HOW you do things…”

  1. What are your values?  Now, rewrite them as verbs.  How will this help you avoid mission drift?

  2. What do you believe about what you do?  How does that affect your actions?

  3. Exercise:  Describe your organization using different orders of why, how and what.  What do you observe about the messaging?   Try this out with someone else.  What message do they find more engaging?

Do you have your copy yet?

 
Sonja Schappert
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Rooted.To: Start with Why (pt1)