Leaders Eat Last — Simon Sinek

Paperback | Portfolio | May 23, 2017

The Gist

If you don’t create a safe space for your people, your team will not flourish, your business will be mediocre at best, and you won’t be able to hang on (or attract top talent).

Read If You Like

• Start With Why Simon Sinek

• Business books

• Grit by Angela Duckworth

• Being able to be a better teammate and member of your organization.

Verdict: A Good read whether you’re a leader or not

In Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t, Simon Sinek makes the argument that for businesses to be successful and sustainable, leaders need to take care of their employees and build a positive, safe work environment. By treating employees like human beings and creating an environment where people can fail, they’re able to grow and form meaningful relationships. By putting people first, Sinek believes companies can create strong cultures that are able to endure. For Sinek, creating a culture of safety is key. But unlike others who believe pizza parties and bean bag chairs are the way to an employee’s heart, Sinek demonstrates throughout Leaders Eat Last that as a leader, your main responsibility is to care about your people. The book offers countless examples of model leadership and how leaders can better connect with and build their teams. However, while the examples are strong the threads Sinek weaves often get tangled and the argument he’s making gets lost or feels stretched. Additionally, Leaders Eat Last doesn’t offer advice for cultivating the leadership qualities it highlights as “must-haves” for those in managerial roles. Nevertheless, this book is a good place to start if you’re looking to prepare yourself to manage or are trying to build a healthier culture at your company.