In Chapter 7 of 16 in his 2009 Capture Your Flag interview, "Start With Why" author and leadership expert Simon Sinek answers "What is the takeaway from being authentic and what is the stuff we should set aside?" Sinek shares why it is important and valuable being authentic in one's actions. Sinek highlights how truly authentic behavior - believing in what you say and do - builds trust, creates support, and strengthens relationships. Simon Sinek teaches leaders and organizations how to inspire people. Sinek is the author of two books, "Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Come Together and Others Don't" and "Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action". He is a public speaker, an adjunct professor at Columbia University and a Brandeis University graduate.
Transcript
Erik Michielsen: What is the takeaway from being authentic and what is the stuff we should set aside?
Simon Sinek: The word authenticity is too loosely used. Go ahead, today Erik, I want you to be more authentic. What are you going to change? You have no clue. What authenticity means is the things you say and things you do you actually believe. We are social animals and trust comes from the feeling we have when you get a sense of somebody. We are social animals and the reason the human race has been successful is because we have the ability to form cultures. We are good at figuring people out. It is what makes us successful as a species. So when you are authentic, when you only say and do the things you actually believe, people will trust you. When you don`t say the things you believe, you are just trying to get some short term behavior, people will not trust you. So the importance and value of being authentic is that it is your long term interest that people will support you and stand by you. People will put up with your failures. People will help you for no other reason than it helps them.