What We're Learning | November 2023

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What We're Learning

What We're Learning | November 2023

November 9th, 2023by Leading Edge

Here's what the Leading Edge team is learning about culture, executives, and boards this month.

Illustration of the progression of a plant growing from seeds in a jar from Getty Images

American Jewish philanthropy today needs a ‘yes, and’ approach

Barry Finestone, CEO of the Jim Joseph Foundation and a Leading Edge board member emphasizes the importance of adopting a "yes, and" approach for Jewish philanthropy. While support for Israel at this moment is crucial, he writes, attention should also be given to fortifying the American Jewish community to prevent potential long-term challenges. Urgent areas of focus include security, staffing shortages, mental health support, education, and fundraising for local Jewish institutions, emphasizing the need for generous giving and hope as an active force in securing the future of both the American Jewish community and Israel.

CULTURE

7 lessons you can learn from a difficult coworker
Dealing with rudeness and bad behavior in and out of the office is a common challenge, with studies indicating a deterioration in civility. However, there are valuable lessons to be learned from difficult coworkers, such as becoming a role model, doing your fair share, following through on commitments, being detail-oriented, accepting feedback, improving interpersonal relationships, and standing up against bad behavior. These experiences can contribute to personal growth, credibility, and a more positive work environment.
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Report: 2023 State of Workplace Empathy by Businessolver
The data in this report underscores the importance of empathy for both organizational success and culture. However, the persistence of the empathy gap leaves HR and employees feeling neglected, undervalued, and underpaid, with this year's empathy report highlighting pressing concerns such as RTO, inclusive benefits, DEIB, and flexibility.
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NYT: The Five-Day Office Week Is Dead
TIME: Burned Out at Work? Find Someone to Split Your Job 50-50 With You
The Conversation: Teamwork is not always the best way of working – new study

EXECUTIVES

It’s great to have empathy, but how you show it is what really matters
Research shows that while empathy is crucial for building a positive work environment, there's a gap in its practical implementation, as many employees feel their companies' efforts are insincere. To bridge this gap, leaders can prioritize deep listening, reorient themselves to understand others' experiences, communicate empathy sincerely, and offer assistance when needed, ultimately fostering a stronger organizational culture.
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Middle Managers are Crucial and Overlooked
Middle managers often find themselves in the challenging position of conveying directives from top leaders without knowing the full rationale behind those directives, leading to a negative stereotype of middle managers as hapless enforcers in corporate culture. To alleviate the pressures on middle managers and unlock their potential to inspire and guide teams, organizations should provide them with the tools, resources, and trust to tackle organizational roadblocks, ultimately leading to higher productivity and profits.
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Allwork.Space: How To Evaluate The Efficacy Of Your Hybrid Work Model
MIT Sloan Management Review: The Potency of Shortcuts in Decision-Making
Bloomberg: Return to Office Brings CEO Relationships Back to the Forefront

BOARDS

An Onboarding Checklist for New Board Members
When becoming a new board member, receiving a bulky binder filled with overwhelming information may not be the most effective way to onboard. Instead, a new board member needs to feel they've made the right choice, belong, understand the organization's direction, and share the mission with like-minded individuals. Most importantly, they need to know what success looks like within the organization, as clarity on their role is crucial for their effectiveness on the board.
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How to Attract, Keep and Engage the Next Generation of Board Members
Nonprofit organizations often struggle with a lack of age diversity on their boards, which can lead to a disconnect between the board and the organization's mission. To improve mission execution, it's crucial for nonprofits to cultivate the next generation of board members, including younger individuals. This can be achieved by reimagining qualifications for board membership, actively seeking and recruiting outstanding young candidates, providing leadership development opportunities, and demonstrating the importance of board diversity, among other strategies.
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