Why Good Leaders Explain Plans, and Great Ones Explain Purpose

A reflection from Start With Why by Simon Sinek

Hej! It’s William!

This is part of the “Meller Highlights“ series with reflections and learnings from my personal book highlights. I read a lot of books, and as a way of giving more value to my paid subscribers, I now share great book lessons specially for them.

If you’ve been following along and enjoying the ideas I share, I’d love to have you join them. Becoming a premium subscriber not only gives you full access, but it also helps me keep creating and going deeper with the work I do.

How do these highlights work?

Every day, I pick one idea from my reading and think about how to apply it in real life. Most stay as private notes, but once a week, I choose one that feels special.

That’s the one I share here, a highlight that turns into a deeper reflection on how it can change the way we do something.

Today’s highlight: Start With Why by Simon Sinek

“… Great leaders are those who trust their gut. They are those who understand the art before the science. They win hearts before minds. They are the ones who start with why...”

The first time I read that line, it sounded poetic but vague…

Trust your gut?
Win hearts before minds?

These phrases appear everywhere in leadership books, printed on posters and LinkedIn slides.

Yet, as with many simple truths, they are hard to live by when pressure rises.