Book of the Week
Every week, Smart Office staff and leadership recommend books for business leaders and technology entrepreneurs. Read the same books that have helped shape Smart Office into an award-winning communication, mobile marketing, and field management technology provider for franchise and direct selling enterprises.
“You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read.”
― Charlie “Tremendous” Jones
Leaders Eat Last” by Simon Sinek
This Week’s Title: Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t by Simon Sinek
Recommended By: Alan Alpert, Smart Office Founder
Favorite Quote: “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” – Simon Sinek
Why We Love It: Inspiring other to become leaders is how we continue to be great in business and life. Passing the torch to the next great leader or generation is how we create great businesses and organizations that thrive, continue to grow and evolve. Smart Office provides innovative and responsive communication and technology tools to help you and your organization evolve.
Book Summary: Imagine a world where almost everyone wakes up inspired to go to work, feels trusted and valued during the day, then returns home feeling fulfilled. This is not a crazy, idealized notion. Today, in many successful organizations, great leaders create environments in which people naturally work together to do remarkable things.
In his work with organizations around the world, Simon Sinek noticed that some teams trust each other so deeply that they would literally put their lives on the line for each other. Other teams, no matter what incentives are offered, are doomed to infighting, fragmentation and failure. Why?
The answer became clear during a conversation with a Marine Corps general. “Officers eat last,” he said. Sinek watched as the most junior Marines ate first while the most senior Marines took their place at the back of the line. What’s symbolic in the chow hall is deadly serious on the battlefield: Great leaders sacrifice their own comfort – even their own survival – for the good of those in their care.
Too many workplaces are driven by cynicism, paranoia, and self-interest. But the best ones foster trust and cooperation because their leaders build what Sinek calls a “Circle of Safety” that separates the security inside the team from the challenges outside.
Sinek illustrates his ideas with fascinating true stories that range from the military to big business, from government to investment banking. – Amazon
About the Author: Simon Oliver Sinek is a British-American author, motivational speaker and organizational consultant. He is the author of five books, including Start With Why. – Wikipedia
Support Number: (800) 891-8601
Office Hours: 9:00am – 5:00pm ET