Day21: Simon Sinek

The reason: Pondering what the leader is.

I am writing this writing project more than 20 people, now actually am seeing the elements which these visionaries have in common. Visionaries are not the persons who had the vision only. I believe they are also leaders. So naturally, I ask myself what the leader is. I guess I got one answer from Simon Sinek’s study of leadership and his TED talk.

• Leaders take risks

The leader is the person who takes risks. By doing this, they are force to think while they are challenging. Because they are taking risk in the head of group, they test his word by himself. In the end, their words become trustworthy and their actions become reliable. When I was thinking this, the first person in my mind is Elon Musk. As I described in Day1, he cofounded Paypal and then he sold it for his next challenge which is SpaceX. He is great because he put his fortune made by himself into his vision. Many people in the world might have the idea like him. However, none of them spent all their money for their dream. People will follow him because he took all his risks he could.

• The leader gives environment.

So, by taking risk, what does the leader accomplish? The leader is the just one person, what he can accomplish is small but the leader could lead the people to achieve the larger goal. I believe the leader gives the environment to the people to chance to achieve their goal and his goal. As far as I concerned, I thought that my future boss in Australia should be a great leader. I was chosen from many of candidates for this job. Since this job is the specific position which requires the specific experiences, sometimes we could guess who the other candidates are. I don’t know the truth though, I believe I was the youngest candidate. And also, I believe the achievement I have done was not the strongest among the candidates.  But, I was chosen. I know many of the other committee members must have been skeptical to hire me. But, I was chosen. So, I am willing to contribute to this job greater than anyone else because he took the risk by hiring me and gave me a chance to work.

• Leadership is the choice

Leaders are not the persons who are chosen. Leaders are not the persons whose voice is loudest. Leaders are not the persons who have talent. Leaders are not the persons who are smart. Leaders are the persons who make choices. I am scientist. I know there is no way to predict our future. We could estimate our future risk by making and using model. But, there are always risks and benefits even if which way we choose. So someone have to make decision under uncertainty with the data all he could get and his intuition. Many people in society or community can avoid making decision, but whether or not we make decision for the society or community is our choice.

• What will I do?

I am writing the visionaries to think how I can be like them.  I realized that I don’t need to be afraid of having no talent or smartness but I have to be afraid of not having enthusiasm. I have to keep my enthusiasm, and then have to have willing to take risks. I will give the people, colleagues, friends, and family opportunities to try something, and I will make decision for future achievement when I am required to do so.