Why Do Leaders Eat Last

Famous leaders include Army General George S. Patton, Jr., U. S. Navy Captain David Marquet, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Pope Francis to name a few. As a transformational leader, General Patton acted as a teacher and mentor; furthermore, he was people oriented, knew the strengths, weaknesses, and experiences of his soldiers, earned their trust and cooperation, and motivated them to work together as a team to accomplish the mission. Trustworthiness, empathy, and cooperation are just a few of the qualities necessary for a responsible leader that Simon Sinek presents in his latest book, Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t. Sinek utilizes military analogies, human biology, and
“Leaders are the ones who are willing to give up something of their own for us. Their time, their energy, their money, maybe even the food off their plate. When it matters, leaders choose to eat last” (66). As the title, Leaders Eat Last, suggests, a great leader will eat last allowing his subordinates to eat first as in the tradition of officers in the U.S. Marine Corps. A true leader always puts others first and will sacrifice himself to protect others; thus, others become willing to risk their lives because they know others would do the same for them. This culture of service permeates through the organization and create a safe, strong environment of connection, caring, and commitment known as a "circle of safety." When people feel safe, they work better and harder. “Leadership is not a license to do less; it is a responsibility to do more” (214). Leadership requires time, energy, and a commitment to others. Leaders provide direction and the opportunity for others to figure out how to complete the goal correctly rather than just following orders as explained by Captain Marquet. Building trust simply by being honest, accountable, and sharing knowledge are vital to set a positive tone and direction for the