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Todd J. Sukol
Todd J. Sukol
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Breaking Free from Hub & Spokes Syndrome

Posted on November 1, 2018November 5, 2018 by Todd J. Sukol

By Todd J. Sukol

I just returned from two weeks completely disconnected from my office, an all-time high for me, to find our team producing fabulous results in my absence. Yes!

Though I have long been familiar with the ideal that great leaders can walk away without their teams falling apart, it has been a long road for me to get there. I spent years plagued by “hub and spokes syndrome,” always keeping myself at the center of the action. In a well-intended effort to keep things under control, I bought myself only an illusion of control while denying staff the chance to take responsibility, tap their creativity and stretch their skills. For the past eight to 10 years I’ve made a concerted effort to escape this trap. I’m making serious progress, and so can you. My team and I have cultivated an atmosphere of trust, risk taking, open feedback and personal responsibility. We’ve experimented with various ways of providing constructive amounts of structure, support and accountability for everyone on the team. I’ve also been blessed with some incredibly talented and growth oriented team members.

My smooth reentry this week showed me that our collective efforts are working wonderfully. For those of you in management roles, struggling with your team’s performance, I’m here to testify that giving your staff enough room to succeed as well as fail can be a frightening leap of faith, but it works. We’re not talking about neglect here – there’s plenty of work to be done, it is just a different kind of work than you might be used to. When we focus on our people instead of their work, our staff members have the chance to build on their strengths and address their weaknesses.

When we focus on processes instead of emergencies of the day, we give ourselves the breathing room to keep an eye on the big picture, detecting extraordinary opportunities and deadly icebergs alike.

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The Inside Job

When is “enough” enough?

May 6, 2022

We work so hard to be the best we can be. To make our organizations the best they can be. When does our obligation reach its limits?  Ours is a field where there is always something more that can be done more, or better. A system can be improved. A problem can be solved. A success can be made greater. Another dollar can be raised. Another beneficiary served. Another staff member assisted. There are so many pulls on you as a nonprofit organization leader – when is “good enough” finally good enough?

In truth, the real question isn’t “how hard” should we work, but “HOW” should we work. Please remember that there is a deep, divine spark inside of you. This same spark lives inside of every person, place, thing or circumstance you encounter. As a nonprofit professional and as a human being, your first obligation is to recognize, reveal and fan the flames of that spark in yourself and in those you work with. When you’re pushing so hard that your efforts no longer support this objective, it’s time to step back. 

No matter how dedicated we are to the missions of our organizations, we cannot turn to our work for all of the meaning in our lives. You are uniquely special because you come from a divine source. We all need to step away from our work and take a break for spiritual and physical refreshment from time to time. We all need to remember and reconnect with the loved ones from whom we derive our identities and our strength.

Ask yourself: “In my work today, is my best self in the driver’s seat? Or, am I burning myself out by chasing “symptoms of success” rather than allowing my inner spark to express itself as I go about my work?”

Image above may be purchased as a print from https://www.hebrica.com/collections/torah-and-texts/products/you-shall-be-holy-jewish-paper-cut-art

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