Start with ‘Why?’

I listened to Simon Sinek’s TED talk on inspirational leadership and it got me thinking.

He explains inspiring leaders through his golden circle of ‘what, how, why’.  Most individuals and organisations focus on what they do and how they do it. Inspirational leaders think, act and communicate from the inside of the circle  outward. They start with the ‘why‘, and only then the how and the what.

Here’s the TED talk. You’ll probably find yourself thinking about how it applies in a variety of contexts. I know I am!

I’ve been thinking of the applications in teaching and learning.  We need to start by knowing what we believe about how students learn.  And if learning is to be meaningful and engaging, both teachers and learners should be clear on the ‘why’ behind any learning experience.  If not, it’s probably just work!

Someone who had listened to the TED talk asked me yesterday about the ‘why’ behind this blog. Sinek says  ‘If you talk about what you believe, you will attract those who believe what you believe. People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it’.  I’m not selling anything! But here is my ‘why’ …

I’m a teacher, a learner and an inquirer.   I blog to share my reflections on teaching and learning and to engage in conversation with other educators who extend my thinking further.  If you share my passion for teaching and learning through inquiry, creating a culture of thinking in the classroom  and enhancing learning through technology… If  being part of a learning community is important to you…. then you’ve come to the right place!