How to navigate the golden circle
It's human nature to start from the outside of the circle, with what you know, and work your way to the inside, which is the more challenging aspect - i.e. the “why.”
However, those leaders, the ones who inspire action rather than manipulating people into action, choose to reverse that, expounding first on the “why” to hook you in and keep you interested. That's because people don't buy what you do, they buy into why you do it.
This reversal of communicating your strengths works because it talks directly to the limbic system, the part of the brain involved in behavioural and emotional responses.
Let's look at a couple of real life examples to show how the golden circle theory works.
Example 1
We've all heard of Elon Musk and his company, Tesla, so named after Nikola Tesla, a Serbian-American inventor, engineer, and futurist renowned for contributing towards the design of the modern alternating current (AC) electricity supply system. Elon Musk is on a mission and certainly wants you to know about it…
Tesla's golden circle might look like this:
Why - Our mission is to speed up the global march of sustainable energy
How - Constantly trying to find new ways in which to make sustainable energy cheaper, more accessible, and more cost effective
What - We sell electric vehicles
The “why” here is crucial, as who doesn't want to champion an increase in sustainable energy for the good of the planet?
Example 2
Slightly older pioneers back in the 19th century, the Wright Brothers, Orville and Wilbur, are accredited as the inventors, builders, and flyers of the first ever motor-operated aeroplane that actually flew.
The Wright Brothers' golden circle might look like this:
Why - If we can figure out how to get this flying machine off the ground, then anything is possible
How - We'll work day and night, constantly testing and retesting new ways in which to fly, while learning from any mistakes
What - We're building powered flight
Another enticing “why” which has proven to be game changing.
Using the golden circle theory to your advantage
While the golden circle idea is primarily focused on businesses, it can be applied to individuals as well. Pinpointing your “why” is crucial to visualising your career goals and achieving career success. Many people know what and how they do what they do, but not why. And if you don't know why you do something, then no one else will have a clue either.
The key to it is actually putting it into practice.
Collected From TopCV
