Jewish tradition prohibits attaching farm animals of radically different species to the same plow, on account of frustration and excessive burden to both animals. Even in the context of ancient agriculture, we recognize that partnering with someone of wildly different temperament can be painful. One philosopher applies this principle to human relationships as well. He…
Category: Timeless Wisdom
Organic and Intentional: Jewish Grandparents Network Retreat Models Collaborative Program Development
By Todd J. Sukol I had the privilege of attending the Jewish Grandparents Network planning retreat at the Pearlstone Retreat Center in Maryland this week. The event, co-hosted by JGN and the Mayberg Center for Jewish Education & Leadership at George Washington University, was unusual in one way above all. To their extreme credit, JGN…
“Strengths and Challenges”: The Tragedy of a Workplace Euphemism
By Todd J. Sukol It is at great cost to our organizations’ missions that we have turned “weakness” into a dirty word and “challenge” into a weak word. Two of the most powerful concepts to hit mainstream management from the world of psychology and human development in recent years are: Growth Mindset, popularized by Carol…
Embracing Complementary Opposites: Learning When to Loosen and When to Tighten
By Todd J. Sukol Reposted from Mayberg Foundation Blog http://www.mayberg.org/new-blog/2018/9/5/embracing-complementary-opposites-learning-when-to-loosen-and-when-to-tighten Recently I was working with colleagues at the Mayberg Foundation, preparing a presentation about our approach to entrepreneurial philanthropy. As we spun out some of the core operating principles we wanted to highlight, two of them struck me at first to be at odds with…