Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't

by Simon Sinek

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

This book is not just for leaders aspiring to better themselves; it's for anyone looking to improve their interpersonal skills, career path, and maybe even the world.

The New York Times bestseller by the acclaimed, bestselling author of Start With Why and Together is Better. Now with an expanded chapter and appendix on leading millennials, based on Simon Sinek's viral video "Millenials in the workplace" (150+ million views).

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781591845324
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	01/07/2014
Pages:	368
Sales rank:	62,452
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Simon Sinek is an optimist, teacher, writer, and worldwide public speaker. His first four books —Start With Why, Leaders Eat Last, Together is Better, and Find Your Why — have been national and international bestsellers. His first TED talk, based on Start With Why, is the third most-viewed TED video of all time. Learn more about his work and how you can inspire those around you at StartWithWhy.com.

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Chapter 1
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Excerpted from "Leaders Eat Last"
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Copyright © 2014 Simon Sinek.
Excerpted by permission of Penguin Publishing Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Foreword xi

Part 1 Our Need to Feel Safe

1 Protection from Above 3

2 Employees Are People Too 10

3 Belonging 23

4 Yeah, but … 31

Part 2 Powerful Forces

5 When Enough Was Enough 40

6 E.D.S.O. 47

7 The Big C 65

8 Why We Have Leaders 77

Part 3 Reality

9 The Courage to Do the Right Thing 89

10 Snowmobile in the Desert 94

Part 4 How We Got Here

11 The Boom Before the Bust 101

12 The Boomers All Grown Up 112

Part 5 The Abstract Challenge

13 Abstraction Kills 121

14 Modern Abstraction 128

15 Managing the Abstraction 136

16 Imbalance 154

Part 6 Destructive Abundance

17 Leadership Lesson 1: So Goes the Culture, So Goes the Company 159

18 Leadership Lesson 2: So Goes the Leader, So Goes the Culture 171

19 Leadership Lesson 3: Integrity Matters 185

20 Leadership Lesson 4: Friends Matter 198

21 Leadership Lesson 5: Lead the People, Not the Numbers 208

Part 7 A Society of Addicts

22 At the Center of All Our Problems Is Us 227

23 At Any Expense 235

24 The Abstract Generation (Revised and Expanded) 243

Part 8 Becoming a Leader

25 Step 12 272

26 Shared Struggle 277

27 We Need More Leaders 286

Appendix: A Practical Guide to Leading Millenials 289

Acknowledgments 307

Notes 311

Bibliography 337

Index 339

Editorial Reviews

12/01/2015
Sinek suggests that building a secure and interesting working life for employees may translate into profits for the company because it empowers employees to make wise decisions. Although most of the insights here are pointed at CEOs in large companies, when a company includes only three people it is of utmost importance that they all pull together.

Library Journal