Simon Sinek

Now, where it gets dangerous is when we, and this breaks psychological safety, is when leaders keep things for themselves, right? Like, listen, I'm not going to give you your bonus, but you should see mine, right?

And so we see that one of the reasons companies break trust with employees, it's actually really interesting if you're into this kind of stuff, if you're a nerd like me, there's actually an anthropological theory constant, there's an anthropological reason we have leaders. This is why, quote unquote, leaderless movements or leaderless organizations don't work.

And so we see that one of the reasons companies break trust with employees, it's actually really interesting if you're into this kind of stuff, if you're a nerd like me, there's actually an anthropological theory constant, there's an anthropological reason we have leaders. This is why, quote unquote, leaderless movements or leaderless organizations don't work.

And so we see that one of the reasons companies break trust with employees, it's actually really interesting if you're into this kind of stuff, if you're a nerd like me, there's actually an anthropological theory constant, there's an anthropological reason we have leaders. This is why, quote unquote, leaderless movements or leaderless organizations don't work.

which actually violates our anthropology. So if we go back many thousands of years, early Homo sapien, so we've been farming only for about 10,000 to 12,000 years. That's it. But prior to that, we lived in populations that were rarely bigger than about 150,000. This is where Dunbar's number come from if you're into that kind of stuff. Anyway, we lived in these populations about 150, 200 people.

which actually violates our anthropology. So if we go back many thousands of years, early Homo sapien, so we've been farming only for about 10,000 to 12,000 years. That's it. But prior to that, we lived in populations that were rarely bigger than about 150,000. This is where Dunbar's number come from if you're into that kind of stuff. Anyway, we lived in these populations about 150, 200 people.

which actually violates our anthropology. So if we go back many thousands of years, early Homo sapien, so we've been farming only for about 10,000 to 12,000 years. That's it. But prior to that, we lived in populations that were rarely bigger than about 150,000. This is where Dunbar's number come from if you're into that kind of stuff. Anyway, we lived in these populations about 150, 200 people.

And, you know, we all have to kind of work together and help each other out because it's dangerous, right? And these are austere times. So the hunter-gatherers go out and they get food. And we're all pretty hungry. When you're living with 150, 200 people and you bring food back to the tribe, who eats first?

And, you know, we all have to kind of work together and help each other out because it's dangerous, right? And these are austere times. So the hunter-gatherers go out and they get food. And we're all pretty hungry. When you're living with 150, 200 people and you bring food back to the tribe, who eats first?

And, you know, we all have to kind of work together and help each other out because it's dangerous, right? And these are austere times. So the hunter-gatherers go out and they get food. And we're all pretty hungry. When you're living with 150, 200 people and you bring food back to the tribe, who eats first?

If you're the guy who's built like a football player, you can shove your way to the front of the line. But if you're the quote unquote artist of the family, you're going to get an elbow in the face. Now, this is a bad system of cooperation because if you punched me in the face this afternoon, the odds are pretty high I'm not going to wake you and alert you to danger tonight.

If you're the guy who's built like a football player, you can shove your way to the front of the line. But if you're the quote unquote artist of the family, you're going to get an elbow in the face. Now, this is a bad system of cooperation because if you punched me in the face this afternoon, the odds are pretty high I'm not going to wake you and alert you to danger tonight.

If you're the guy who's built like a football player, you can shove your way to the front of the line. But if you're the quote unquote artist of the family, you're going to get an elbow in the face. Now, this is a bad system of cooperation because if you punched me in the face this afternoon, the odds are pretty high I'm not going to wake you and alert you to danger tonight.

And so we evolved into hierarchical animals. We're constantly assessing and judging each other who's higher in whatever the pecking order is. And every different group and every different tribe has different standards. And in companies, we have a formal pecking order. There's a leadership, there's a structure, there's a hierarchy. And if you're higher in the hierarchy,

And so we evolved into hierarchical animals. We're constantly assessing and judging each other who's higher in whatever the pecking order is. And every different group and every different tribe has different standards. And in companies, we have a formal pecking order. There's a leadership, there's a structure, there's a hierarchy. And if you're higher in the hierarchy,

And so we evolved into hierarchical animals. We're constantly assessing and judging each other who's higher in whatever the pecking order is. And every different group and every different tribe has different standards. And in companies, we have a formal pecking order. There's a leadership, there's a structure, there's a hierarchy. And if you're higher in the hierarchy,

you get special treatment, right? So in the tribes, go back way when, if we assess that you were the alpha in the tribe, we stepped back and allowed you to eat first. So leaders, alphas got first choice of meat and first choice of mate. And I may not get to eat first, but I definitely get food and I don't get an elbow in the face. Good system. And that system is alive and well today.

you get special treatment, right? So in the tribes, go back way when, if we assess that you were the alpha in the tribe, we stepped back and allowed you to eat first. So leaders, alphas got first choice of meat and first choice of mate. And I may not get to eat first, but I definitely get food and I don't get an elbow in the face. Good system. And that system is alive and well today.

you get special treatment, right? So in the tribes, go back way when, if we assess that you were the alpha in the tribe, we stepped back and allowed you to eat first. So leaders, alphas got first choice of meat and first choice of mate. And I may not get to eat first, but I definitely get food and I don't get an elbow in the face. Good system. And that system is alive and well today.

Like we don't have a single problem that somebody higher in the system makes a higher salary than me. I may think they're an idiot, but no one is morally offended that somebody more senior makes a higher salary, gets a better parking space or a corner office. It offends no one. However, the group is not stupid. We don't give first choice of meat and first choice of mate.