On this episode of The Alliance Activity podcast, Andy Albright discusses how belonging with others impacts your 'why.'
The "need" to belong is a very basic need. It is a feeling we get when those around us share our values and beliefs. When we feel like we belong, we feel connected and safe. As humans, we crave this feeling and seek it out.
Simon Sinek ("Start With Why") talks about The Golden Circle in his famous book. He created a three-tier circle that goes from "Why" in the center and works outward to "How" and finally "What."
Why (vision) involves the limbic (emotions) part of your brain. This stimulus is a cause and the effect of it provides a spark inside you.
How (the mission) deals with the cerebrum (thinking) of your brain and the cause is space, which deals with the endowments that Albright talked about on Wednesday's The Wednesday Call podcast.
Finally, our What (results) takes us to the neocortex (actions) part of the brain. Here the cause is our response, which leads to our reaction to the results.
What vs. Belonging
What others do and what they accomplish may have appeal, but it doesn't equate to belonging.
The WHAT or Neocortex part of the brain is the rational side of the brain. It communicates what we do with facts and figures. It is driven by a need to understand. This offers us our analytical reasons to take action.
How vs. Belonging
The HOW is what lets others form a bond of belonging. It contributes to the strength of our community. Having a HOW or moral compass. This aligns with our WHY. It empowers our capacity to be: proactive, mature, disciplined and open.
HOW SPACE: The Four Human Endowments
Self Awareness --> Be proactive in your thinking
Conscience --> Be mature in your choices
Independent will --> Be disciplined with your controls
Creative Imagination --> Be open with your judgments
WHY vs. BELONGING
When others clearly communicate why they believe it creates an extraordinary need to belong.
The WHY or Limbic part of the brain: This is the part of the brain that controls our feelings, which has no capacity for rational thought.
Combine Your Golden Circle: working from the inside out
Start with WHY (feeling to believe)
+
Align your HOW (principled to believe)
+
Do the WHAT (reason to believe)
= Belonging and Committed to a Cause
CONCLUSION: People don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it.
This is how you win hearts and minds. The heart represents the limbic brain, and the and is the rational part of the brain (neocortex).
Most companies are very good at winning minds (requires comparison of features and benefits only). The ability to win hearts takes more work. An absent of a why makes it harder for one to accept and feel a sense of belonging to the rational feature and benefit.
