I formed this model of an ideal group culture based on ideas on the Jewish culture discussed in the book What is a Jew?.
A good group:
- Agrees on which goals to pursue, and group members commit to working together to achieve those goals.
- Agrees on which values to follow. These values are clearly spelt out and group members commit to following them.
- Expects to evolve over time, constantly re-evaluating the way things are done to adapt to changing circumstances.
- Works hard to strip away unnecessary rules, practices and customs imposed on its members, leaving just the things that matter.
- Will not set rules its members will be unwilling to follow:“Never pass a law the people cannot bear.”
- Shuns all unnecessary coerced conformity or hint of totalitarianism.
- Shuns abuse of its power. It will allow the less powerful members of the group to have a say in the policies that affect them.
- Encourages members to submit their ideas to the group, to voice their opinions, and to engage in healthy debate.
- Regularly measures its achievements, recognising that a successful group can only be measured by the fruits of its labour, not by its ambitions or its “busy-ness”.
“However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.” — Winston Churchill - Celebrates whenever the group or a member achieves an important success or milestone.
- Encourages members to consult with each other when deciding how to handle tricky ethical dilemmas.
- Encourages members to monitor each other’s behaviour for violations of group standards and to raise their concerns, rather than say “It’s not my problem. It’s not my business”.
- Encourages contact with outsiders, inviting outsiders to participate in some of its activities to encourage a fruitful exchange of ideas and skills.
- Encourages learning within the group, with members generously sharing useful information and skills with each other and attending group learning events together.
- Encourages members to pursue their own goals that support the group’s higher goals.
- Conducts regular reflection sessions where group members, individually and together, review their progress. They reflect on their short-comings and work out how to do better. They think about how to heal rifts in their relationships with other group members and think how to help other members they are presently neglecting or could be supporting more.
- Publicly speaks out to the outside world in favour of what it believes is right and speaks out against what it believes is wrong and encourages its members to do so individually.
- Engages in doing “good works”. Group members will help each other in various ways, through moral support, practical advice and other more tangible ways. The group engages in activities that better the world as well as better themselves.
Some admirable group values to consider
- openness to new ideas and ways of doing things
- flexibility
- compromise – except when it comes to high ethical standards
- tolerance and respect for other people’s different ways of doing things
- kindness
- compassion
- to not do to others what you wouldn’t want them to do to you
- love of learning
- freedom
- individual autonomy
- belief that we can achieve more working together than as individuals working alone
- belief that we are all endowed with the potential for greatness and goodness
- optimism
- belief that success comes from trying really hard
- integrity
- justice
- speaking up against unfairness and wrong-doing
- not remaining silent about things we know are wrong
- apologising to others that we have wronged and trying to make amends
- being forgiving and understanding towards others who have wronged us
- expressing our gratitude and appreciation to others
- giving back
- working for the higher good
- giving others “the benefit of the doubt”
- being “other” focused – i.e. asking “what is best for everyone? “
- not allowing ourselves to abuse our power over others
