Do you feel the transition in the air? For many, this time of year evokes wistful emotions as leaves on trees begin to change, summer tans begin to fade, and Pumpkin Spice reappears on shelves (and just about everywhere else, too!) Likewise, this time on the Jewish calendar invites us into a period of spiritual transition and reflection as we move from the final month of Elul into the Jewish New Year.
As it does each Tishrei, Rosh Hashanah presents us with the opportunity to start fresh and make changes in our lives, habits, and relationships for the coming year. This process would be incomplete without making it a point to look back at the year we’re leaving behind and reflect on successes and struggles alike. The only way to truly assess how we are showing up for ourselves and our communities is to begin with a process of deep, personal reflection: What went well this year? What did not? What changes could I make in order to continuously improve?
How does this relate to creating healthy workplace culture?
If you’re reading our newsletter, you’re probably already in the mindset of creating healthy organizational practices. So, what do Elul and Tishrei have to do with life in the workplace? Research shows that when organizations prioritize positive reflection in workplace relationships, they create a space for their community to thrive. (Asplund, Brim 2009) The same ideas about taking stock of how we’re doing in our personal lives can apply to the organizational environment we strive to create. Without reflection, our organizations may not be able to evaluate their greatest strengths and weaknesses, leading to missed opportunities for growth and progress.
At Ta’amod, we invite you to join us in using this unique time of year to ask those same, hard questions above in reference to workplace culture:
- What new systems worked well at your organization this past year?
- What obstacles did your team face?
- How are your employees or colleagues feeling about work right now?
- Are there additional ways to support your workplace community to deepen experiences of safety, belonging, and success?
