Recently reading the book, Thou Shall Prosper by Rabbi Daniel Lapin I came across a few leadership nuggets I wanted to share with you. I've also included some questions of my own to help you dive in deeper.
5 Jewish Leadership Tips
1. You must induct your employees into the culture of your organization. Without undergoing that acculturating experience, employees will never participate fully as members of a team.Without it, they will also fail to develop internal guidelines that will allow them to use their initiative in the absence of specific direction.
Question: What kind of experiences is your team encountering in your meetings, trainings, and 1 on 1 interactions that show your employees who you are and what you are about (your culture)? Culture first and foremost is about the experiences you create.
- You must also be crystal clear on exactly what you expect from those who look to you for leadership.
Question for Your Team: Ask your team to describe what you expect from them in 5 words. Regular feedback is essential in every growing and healthy team.
- You must also regard it as part of your mandate to ensure that no employee languishes in loneliness.
Question: When was the last time you asked your team (on an emotional level) how they are doing...like really doing? Researchers have found that emotional energy counts for 70% of our daily energy.
- You must provide skill training that will allow each employee to contribute to the bottom line.
Question: If you look back on the last year did every member of your team receive the opportunity to grow and expand their skills and abilities? Everyone desires a chance to be a part of a story bigger than themselves.
- You must equip all your employees with the ability to remain afloat in turbulent waters.
Question: Think back on the last time change and adversity hit your team. How was your communication and was it effective? Is there anything you would have done differently? In adversity, sometimes we just need to know we are not alone. So, leaders I hope you remember the power of your influence and remember that both hope and fear are contagious. In seasons of change and transition, a leader's guide becomes the glue that holds a team together and move them forward.Keep supporting each other and deciding each day to serve those around you. There are bigger and better things ahead!