What Do You Believe?

One of my favorite TED Talks is Simon Sinek’s talk on how great leaders inspire action.

It’s worth watching the full video, but the  part of the video I love the most is understanding how powerful the word ‘believe’ is.  Sinek makes the point that when we hear the words “I believe” come out of someone’s mouth we instinctively lean forward.  We are compelled to hear the convictions of people we interact with.

What you believe in is what you take a stand for, what you give voice to, and what you are most motivated by.

By understanding a person’s beliefs you immediately understand their actions and behaviors.

When we share our beliefs they can make people feel aligned with us if they agree, or repelled if they have conflicting beliefs.  When we know what someone believes it tells us something about their story and the filters they see the world through.

Some people believe that they are lucky and things always work out for them.  Others believe that they are victims which makes them avoid taking responsibility for their lives.

I’ve noticed that when I believe it’s going to rain in Seattle I’m usually right …just kidding.     Who’s beliefs could be that powerful?

I invite you to watch the video, think about what you believe and how you can express those beliefs more powerfully.