Whether you’re religious or not, the Torah offers timeless lessons for us all today. Why? Because the stories in the Bible are about people trying to lead change amidst continual disruption: massive floods and droughts, political upheaval, lack of trust in leaders and institutions, social justice movements, family dysfunctions, women demanding equal rights. Sound familiar? The book also includes numerous examples of leading change during disruptive times from modern-day leaders like Colin Powell, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Nelson Mandela, some of our presidents and others. It also draws on current brain research and social science findings that show how we can find many opportunities to innovate during these disruptive times.
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Russ Linden is a leadership educator and author who specializes in organizational change methods. He’s been an adjunct faculty member at the University of Virginia and at the Federal Executive Institute for over 35 years. In 2003 he was the Williams Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the State University of New York (Fredonia) School of Business. His current teaching and consulting interests include leadership lessons from the Torah, collaboration, the human side of change, strategic thinking and acting, developing an agile and resilient culture, and crisis leadership.
Sarasota Democratic Jewish Caucus
Authority Magazine, October 7th, 2022
Conversation with Rabbi Lizzi Heydemann. Founder, Mishkan Chicago. July 21, 2022
Book Review, Charlottesville Daily Progress, June 6, 2022
Interview, Dec. 21, 2021, on the AIB Network in Atlanta.
Interview, The Modern Manager, Feb. 1, 2022.
Interview, Christian Coaching Magazine, Jan. 25, 2022
Interview, NPR in Charlottesville, Dec. 1, 2021.
Interview, Valley Beit Midrash, Dec. 6, 2021.
Federal Executive Institute Alumni Association, Interview, December 2021.
You may have heard this cute saying among Jewish people describing the observance of many holidays: “They tried to kill us. We prevailed. Let’s eat.” There’s some truth to it. And it certainly describes the Chanukah story most of us learned growing up: In the second century BCE, the Holy Land was ruled by the Syrian Greeks who tried to force the Jews to forget their core values and belief in one God, and accept Greek culture.
In 1983 Apple Computers was looking for a new CEO. Steve Jobs was brilliant when it came to new products, but he was a terrible manager. So, the board asked Jobs to find a promising CEO. After interviewing 20 candidates, Jobs decided that Pepsi executive John Sculley was his choice. When Jobs asked him to lead Apple, Sculley said no. He didn’t want to leave Pepsi. Jobs kept asking, Scully kept declining.
For many Jews, the High Holidays are a time of introspection followed by a desire to improve. It’s our time for introspection as well as a new year, so sentiments are similar to anyone’s “new beginnings.” We’ve acknowledged our human frailties, the many times we went astray: now what? Where do we start? It can seem overwhelming. It can also leave us anxious: what if I commit to some change, and fail (like I did last year)? Better not to try at all?
The book is available in the bookstores!
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