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

Simon Sinek

Jan 2014 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

The Deluxe Edition of Leaders Eat Last, now with an expanded chapter and appendix on leading millennials, includes over 30 minutes of exclusive video and 30 minutes of audio of Simon Sinek. The acclaimed, bestselling author of Start With Why and Together is Better delves deeper into book’s themes and shares additional examples and insights.
 
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.

Ratings and reviews

If you want to achieve your next level of leadership, this book is a great resource. It will give you a new paradigm that enables you to empathise, protect, and instruct the team you are in charge of. By learning concepts described here, I have a new set of tools to increase the synergy of my team. I highly recommend this book for any leader that is looking to transcend their current team's dynamics, to achieve new goals, that you and your team can be proud of.

I liked the opening story in this book. It really made me think I'd like the book overall, but about halfway through the book it becomes very repetitious. this is the second book of Sinek's that I've tried to read, and I feel the exact same way about both.

Good book, but it starts to become a little redundant halfway through. Slow read overall.

About the author

Simon Sinek is the bestselling author of Start with Why, which has helped organizations around the world inspire their people to new heights. He has presented his ideas to Fortune 100 companies and small startups; to nonprofits and members of Congress; to foreign ambassadors and the highest levels of the U.S. Military, among many others.  His TED Talk based on Start with Why is the second most popular video of all time on TED.com, with more than 12 million views. He lives in New York City.