Episode 62: Getting Clear on Your Why
In Episode 62, Sam explores how we can get clear on the ‘why’ that drives us personally and professionally. This episode follows on from Episode 61 featuring Troy Morgan, so if you haven’t listened to the previous episode go and do that first.
Sam shares her takeaways from the interview with Troy, and then dives into why it’s so important to have clarity around your ‘why’ both personally and professionally.
Sam explores how having a clear ‘why’ helps engage people in change processes, and what she’s noticed about clients who can clearly articulate their ‘why’.
Sam then shares some of the challenges in our industry around this concept, and the difference between a ‘why’ and a ‘what’.
Finally Sam covers some tips and questions to help you explore your ‘why’ and gives some examples that may inspire you.
Listen to an excerpt
What we cover in this episode
Sam’s takeaways from the interview with Troy Morgan
Why it’s so important to have clarity around your ‘why’ personally and professionally
How a clear ‘why’ helps engage people in change processes
What Sam’s noticed about clients who can clearly articulate their ‘why’
The big challenges in our industry around connecting to our ‘why’
The difference between your ‘why’ and your ‘what’
The power in asking yourself, ‘why do we do this?’
Sam’s tips to exploring your ‘why’
Some questions to ask to help you in that exploration
A few examples of people’s ‘why’ from Sam’s work that may help inspire you
Quotes
“Getting clear on your ‘why’ is the key to engaging both yourself and your people in change. And it's a non-negotiable to your underlying business and career success.”
“The key to a ‘why’, and your purpose in life doesn't actually change that much. What you do, does.”
“She said, ‘I just want to help people. So what I'm feeling right now is I'm feeling that I'm helping you. And that's what makes my great day.’”
“They said, ‘I just want to feel that I was productive that day, I want to Saturday, and I want to get to the end of the day, and feel that I achieved my goals.’ So when we explore that, some of the why around that is I want to feel like I'm contributing to the team, I want to feel that what I'm doing is contributing. So that's a very big ‘why’ as well.”
“It is your ‘why’. Okay? It is individual. Do not judge it. If you're not feeling confident in articulating, just go through the day and test it and keep going with it. You don't have to share this with anybody right now if you don't want to.”
“I always find that when we do get the more material style ‘why’s away, and as I said, there's nothing wrong with them. Usually there is some deeper, more emotive ‘why’ going on underneath them. So just get super curious about that.”
Links mentioned
Simon Sinek - Author of ‘Start With Why’ (and other excellent books)
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